Prospect Round-Up: Defensemen & Goalies in the Senators' Pipeline
Bernard-Docker is shining in the show, but there are many more to keep an eye on.
The Ottawa Senators have a number of defensemen cooking in the system, plus a good chunk of skill in the crease developing well. This edition of Prospect Round-Up will highlight the defense and goaltending prospects playing throughout the Senators’ pro system, including the NHL, AHL, and ECHL.
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Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment box of this post and start a discussion on the current state of the Senators’ prospect pool.
Jacob Bernard-Docker - 3G-3A-6P in 26 NHL Games
After being waived during the preseason, Jacob Bernard-Docker has had quite the emergence as an NHL defenseman. Now, he hasn’t been incredible, but he has certainly earned a place on the NHL roster. Ideally, he would be playing on the bottom pair and have Travis Hamonic sit once Thomas Chabot returns, but only time will tell what his spot looks like.
He has done a great job being physical, and making smart plays, and while he makes many rookie mistakes, he does a lot to make up for it. Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson are the only defensemen with more goals than Bernard-Docker on the Senators.
Tyler Kleven - 1G-5A-6P in 15 AHL Games
Tyler Kleven was given a five-game opportunity in the NHL and while he wasn’t terrible, it was clear he needed some more conditioning in the AHL before making the big leap to the NHL. During his time in the minors, Kleven has been playing the physical game we all know and love, and has done a good job transitioning his play from the college level.
Lassi Thomson - 3G-7A-10P in 28 AHL Games
Another defenseman who was waived to start the year in the Senators system, but unlike Bernard-Docker, Lassi Thomson has not had as strong of a bounce-back from that. His production is significantly lower than it was last season, he has taken a lot more penalties, and his defending has not been as strong as it was shaping up to be.
Thomson is going to need to have a very strong second half of the season if he wants to keep his name in the running for an NHL spot in the future because as of right now, it looks like he is trending the wrong way.
Donovan Sebrango - 1G-1A-2P in 10 AHL/ECHL Games
An asset acquired in the Alex DeBrincat trade, Sebrango had started the year in the ECHL with the Allen Americans, and has been up and down throughout the first half of the year. Only getting 10 games in so far is a bit disappointing so there is not much to build off of with his game.
He has shown his ability to be a snarky player with grit, but in terms of evaluating his defensive abilities, there isn’t much there yet. If he can consistently play in one spot, he might have a better chance of developing his skills further, but right now he is in a bit of a stalemate.
Maxence Guenette - 4G-17A-21P in 28 AHL Games
Max Guenette earned his first NHL game in the Senators’ final game last season, and in training camp this season he made the opening night roster, but due to salary cap implications, had to be sent to Belleville. He has certainly made his case to be the next man up amongst all of the developing rookies, though the Senators staff seem to lean on the more experienced guys when needed, like Jacob Larsson.
Guenette works hard. He produces very well, and he is a good defender. There is not much to dislike about his game. Once Guentte gets a real shot in the NHL there is certainly reason to believe that he will make taking him out of the lineup a difficult decision.
Mads Sogaard - .914 SV%, 2.76 GAA, 6-5-1 in 14 AHL Games
The top goaltending prospect in the Senators system is Mads Sogaard. He has been playing quite well this season on a struggling Belleville team and did well in Ottawa at the end of last season. There is a lot to be excited about for the 6-foot-7 goaltender, and with the way that Ottawa’s goaltending has been playing, there is a chance we see Sogaard in the NHL sooner rather than later.
Leevi Merilainen - .912 SV%, 3.12 GAA, 8-7-1 in 16 AHL/ECHL Games
After one of the best rookie seasons from a goaltender in Finland’s Liiga, Leevi Merilainen has come to North America and is now playing pretty well in his first pro season on the smaller ice surface. It is certainly an adjustment to make, but he may have the most potential in the Senators prospect system, including all of the skaters.
Kevin Mandolese - .909 SV%, 2.82 GAA, 4-5-1 in 11 AHL/ECHL Games
Kevin Mandolese is a forgotten goaltender prospect. With how close Sogaard seems to be and all the skill with Merilainen, the eyes are off of Mandolese. Despite that, he is putting together a sneakily good season. His numbers may not reflect much to be excited about, but it seems as though the Belleville team plays better in front of Sogaard than Mandolese, he does a lot of great work to keep them in every game.
The next edition of this series will be centered around the prospects that play in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Be sure to leave a comment on which prospect has impressed you the most, and the one you were expecting more from!