Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Ottawa Senators’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2024 Draft Grade: B+
It’s a tale of two picks in my view for this Ottawa draft. I adore Carter Yakemchuk — my No. 3 ranked player in the draft — because I think he has star upside. I knew Gabriel Eliasson was going in the second round, but I could never wrap my head around him being that type of prospect. He is a clear NHL athlete with a mean streak, but I saw next to no puck play this season and his mediocre Swedish U18 team could barely play him at times, even though he was often listed by his draft peers as “players they hated to play against” in combine interviews. This draft will revolve around how good Yakemchuk becomes and I think that bar could be high.
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Draft Class
7. Carter Yakemchuk, RHD, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
September 29, 2005 | 6′ 3″ | 203 pounds
Tier: NHL All-Star
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end
Player comparable: Alex Pietrangelo
Analysis: Yakemchuk was a top defenseman in the WHL this season. He’s a 6-3 right-shot defenseman who has legit game-breaking skill. He constantly breaks down opponents one-on-one and can pull off a lot of highlight reel moments. That he skates well and can attack with his skill makes him so difficult to stop as he often dances by checkers. His skating stride isn’t technically perfect. It can break down at times with his legs starting to flail at the end of shifts, but it’s a powerful stride and he often pulls away from pressure. Yakemchuk has a bullet shot from the point. He is more of a shot than a pass threat, and while he can see the ice, his vision isn’t at the same level as his shot or stickhandling. He can make stops due to his feet, length and strong physicality but his defensive play and consistency in that area can use work. Yakemchuk has star potential and projects to be a major minutes player in the NHL with a lot of offensive upside.
Thoughts on the pick: I think anyone who read my draft coverage knew I was going to be a big fan of whoever took Yakemchuk. He’s a dynamic big man. He has high-end skill, he can skate, and plays hard. He has the potential to be a star in the NHL even if he has some things in his all-around game to clean up.
39. Gabriel Eliasson, LHD, HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell)
September 9, 2006 | 6′ 7″ | 205 pounds
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Poor
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Below NHL average
Analysis: Eliasson is a very interesting evaluation given his massive strengths and weaknesses. Eliasson skates well for a big man and can make a lot of stops. He’s extremely physical using his 6-foot-6 frame and has an edge in his game. He has next to no offense though. Eliasson’s puck skills are very limited and his first pass is just OK. He is a player some evaluators love because of how hard he plays, but there is some real doubt he can make even basic plays versus pros.
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104. Lucas Ellinas, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
March 12, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 176 pounds
Analysis: Ellinas trended up as the season went along. He’s a big winger who plays hard and has some pushback in his game. His skating is just OK but he has some skill and scouts see a path for him to be a bottom-six wing.
112. Javon Moore, LW, Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)
December 7, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 203 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Moore was a big part of a top Minnetonka team this season in the Minnesota high school ranks. Moore has a highly intriguing pro toolkit. When you’re 6-foot-3, and can both skate and handle the puck well it’s easy to get excited about your pro potential. On his best shifts, Moore looks like an NHL forward. I would call those best shifts inconsistent though. I didn’t think he dominated high school opponents like his talent dictated he should, whether it was due to so-so hockey sense or too much perimeter play.
117. Blake Montgomery, LW, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
May 4, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 181 pounds
Analysis: Montgomery is a big winger who skates well and had a productive first USHL season. He has some skill, but I wouldn’t call him a natural offensive type who makes a lot of plays. It’s more that he’s a great athlete who has some physicality and OK skill that will make him appealing to NHL teams.
136. Eerik Wallenius, LHD, HPK U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
January 16, 2006 | 6′ 4″ | 212 pounds
Analysis: Wallenius is a tall defenseman with some physicality who can make a decent first pass. His mobility isn’t great, though, and I don’t see the top-level puck play to compensate for that.
Beat writer’s analysis
The Senators pulled off their big move earlier in the week, trading for Linus Ullmark from Boston. General manager Steve Staios was relatively quiet on the trade front in Vegas and nothing appeared imminent when it came to potentially trading one of their roster players.
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Staios was even asked if he tried to do something similar to Toronto on the draft floor and trade an asset to land the signing rights to a pending free agent.
“I considered everything. I don’t have anything pending in that regard,” Staios told The Athletic following the draft.
As for the draft itself, Ottawa focused on the blue line in their efforts to bolster a prospect cupboard that is considered one of the weakest in the league. They started by taking WHL defenceman Carter Yakemchuk with the No. 7 pick. Yakemchuk fills the void of a right-shot defence prospect, with equal parts offence and physicality to his game. And then with their second pick, the Senators opted for towering 6-foot-7 defenceman Gabriel Eliasson from Sweden. The 17-year-old has a reputation for using his size to be a punishing defender who delivers thundering checks. — Ian Mendes
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
