Perfetti was named best student/athelete in OHL this year. Not always, but, sometimes the most elite players are very bright. Conner McDavid fits into the profile of great student/athelete. Zdeno Chara is a huge man. He is also highly intelligent.

Byfield, Rossi, Perfetti, Mercer, Zary, Jarvis, Lapierre. I am hoping the Sens get 4 of those guys on draft day.
- spatso

No offense but I'm not drafting a player based on his GPA..... lol jk. I get what your saying; high intelligence and work ethic are big things.

I may be wrong on perfetti. Jarvis and Zary are great but do you think they need a center if they get Byfield? I also am wondering on whether Stutzle is a reliable #1 center or just winger

I understand what you're saying, but at the very least, the NHL can have a draft lottery. I think they should've had it in 2-3 weeks at the most. Why until the end of June

Why not have 3 draws over the course of 3 weeks:

(example: draft 3rd overall next week; 2nd overall week after; 1st overall after that)..... it's exciting and can give the teams outside the playoffs (not SJ lol) something to really look forward to every week
- AlfieisKing

They need to wait until the first round of the "playoffs" are done at least, if a placeholder team wins one lottery spot.

Also, a seperate draw for the second or first pick would be rather boring, wouldn't we already know where the other 14 teams are picking after the 3rd overall was announced.

No offense but I'm not drafting a player based on his GPA..... lol jk. I get what your saying; high intelligence and work ethic are big things.

I may be wrong on perfetti. Jarvis and Zary are great but do you think they need a center if they get Byfield? I also am wondering on whether Stutzle is a reliable #1 center or just winger
- AlfieisKing

I think the Sens are solid on the back end and Chabot will play 26-28 minutes a game for multiple years. Winning a Stanley Cup requires you have three strong guys at centre. There are some very good centres available in this draft. I would like to see the Sens scoop them up. A good centre prospect is easy to move if they ever discovered that they had too many.

I forgot they had that pick too

Yeah, again, no tears. They’re well set up for a nice restock with some very premium young talent.

They’ll be fine.
They’re in very good position to build a nice future for themselves.

Unless Melnyk manages to screw it up

Norris named AHL most outstanding rookie.

I was hoping the nhl would go back to the old format, for just this year.

Look at Ottawa’s previous years drafting in the top 5..we’ve been screwed.


Last year Avs drafted 4th (when we were the worst team)
2018 when we drafted Brady, we were the 2nd worst in the league.
2011 when we drafted Zib, I think we were 4th worst?

My biggest problem is you’re rewarding all the bubble teams that shouldn’t be in a playoff spot..with shot at the cup.

Further, those who bow out early, have a shot at the lottery.

So what do the bottom 7 teams get exactly?

Our season not only ends early, but we have to work with so many hypotheticals and uncertainties down the stretch.

I don’t care how the NHL is selling it, there will be a HUGE asterisk next to the team who lifts the cup this year.

24 playoff format is a joke to the sport and the integrity of the game.

"The only way this becomes a true Charlie Brown story is if the Maple Leafs lose their play-in matchup and win
the lottery via one of the mystery slots."

.... don't you dare even joke about that.

Jokes aside; I don't really get why so many people are losing their minds. It doesn't really change much for Ottawa.

"The only way this becomes a true Charlie Brown story is if the Maple Leafs lose their play-in matchup and win
the lottery via one of the mystery slots."

.... don't you dare even joke about that.

Jokes aside; I don't really get why so many people are losing their minds. It doesn't really change much for Ottawa.
- PavohnDatsvares

You are making the most important point. Ottawa has 9 picks in the first 3 rounds. Even a week before the season was called nobody would have believed the Sens would be in the 2nd and 3rd lottery slots. San Jose crashed, LA went on a 7 game winning streak.

So, all the Sens can do is play their hand to the best their ability. It is a great hand and they need to make it work for themselves. Forget about all the outside noise.

You are making the most important point. Ottawa has 9 picks in the first 3 rounds. Even a week before the season was called nobody would have believed the Sens would be in the 2nd and 3rd lottery slots. San Jose crashed, LA went on a 7 game winning streak.

So, all the Sens can do is play their hand to the best their ability. It is a great hand and they need to make it work for themselves. Forget about all the outside noise.
- spatso

I am not impressed with the Senators defense and think they need help here too! Jake Sanderson in the last month has jumped past so many other established draft prospects to the point that some scouts have him ranked as the best D man available. If the Sens do end up with the fifth and sixth pick, Sanderson or Drysdale should be in the conversation verses a short centreman.

I was hoping the nhl would go back to the old format, for just this year.

Look at Ottawa’s previous years drafting in the top 5..we’ve been screwed.


Last year Avs drafted 4th (when we were the worst team)
2018 when we drafted Brady, we were the 2nd worst in the league.
2011 when we drafted Zib, I think we were 4th worst?

My biggest problem is you’re rewarding all the bubble teams that shouldn’t be in a playoff spot..with shot at the cup.

Further, those who bow out early, have a shot at the lottery.

So what do the bottom 7 teams get exactly?

Our season not only ends early, but we have to work with so many hypotheticals and uncertainties down the stretch.

I don’t care how the NHL is selling it, there will be a HUGE asterisk next to the team who lifts the cup this year.

24 playoff format is a joke to the sport and the integrity of the game.
- Trilla

-I believe in the Zib draft sens dropped from 5th to 6th (NJ jumped 8 to 4th). With the two players selected ahead of him being larsson and strome I wouldn’t be too upset there.

-In general I agree that bubble teams shouldn’t be in the lottery. I don’t mind having the 3 lotteries at the current odds but the lottery itself should be restricted to the bottom 10 or maybe 8 to begin with.

-Right now there’s no change for the sens lottery chances compared to a couple months ago. Now if I’m a team like Chicago that was (and I’ll add still is) likely to have a top 10 pick I would be furious. It makes no sense that in the event the hawks and pens are both eliminated in the play in round that they both have the same odds to win a top 3 pick if at least one of them are won by a slot reserved for the eliminated play-in teams.

-For the cup I don’t feel awarding it is as important to the way the league operates as concluding the year in a way that’s fair for all teams, which coincidentally can only be done by finishing the year. A cup only matters to this year, the implications of how we resolve trades, draft picks and other things left in limbo will cause issues for years to come. We’ve already seen the controversy this draft lottery has caused, and for example the Crosby lottery as well. Now throw unresolved trades into the mix and all he’ll breaks loose. As far as integrity goes some might say 5 rounds is harder to win than 4. Either way it still may not be best for the cup but it’s best for the future of the league.

-As far as the 24 team play-in, it likely would have been 22 if 23/24 wasn’t the Montreal/Chicago markets. Not saying that would have been ideal either but you could argue the yotes and Wild deserve your be there.

Feel free to disagree on all this that’s just my opinion

I am not impressed with the Senators defense and think they need help here too! Jake Sanderson in the last month has jumped past so many other established draft prospects to the point that some scouts have him ranked as the best D man available. If the Sens do end up with the fifth and sixth pick, Sanderson or Drysdale should be in the conversation verses a short centreman.
- Barrykerr1

Drysdale is the only D you should consider in those slots. My own opinion but I find it concerning that Sanderson has moved from mid-to-late teens to potential top 10 pick without playing a single game.

Drysdale is the only D you should consider in those slots. My own opinion but I find it concerning that Sanderson has moved from mid-to-late teens to potential top 10 pick without playing a single game.
- RedC21

Marketing 101. Few Americans are top ranked in this draft. most of the buzz is coming from american media source.

They need to just go with the BPA approach. Hard to make a mistake when you go that way and they’ll still be picking high enough to where they’ll be getting a good player they don’t have to worry too much about that guy being surpassed by someone they passed on.

Keep it simple and safe.

They need to just go with the BPA approach. Hard to make a mistake when you go that way and they’ll still be picking high enough to where they’ll be getting a good player they don’t have to worry too much about that guy being surpassed by someone they passed on.

Keep it simple and safe.
- nyr1980

Everyone agrees that BPA is the way to go. But it is more complicated than it has been for a long time. Yesterday, Pierre Dorion said that this may be the best pool of draft talent for the last 20 years.

Lafreniere clearly stands alone at #1. Byfield and Stutzle are fairly solid at #2 and #3. But nobody really knows for sure how to rank the next dozen or so players. There is a Russian goalie being compared to Price sitting in the 10 to 15 range. The kid Seth Jarvis is ranked as low as 27, yet he outscored everyone in junior hockey in post Christmas play...how high would he be ranked if they had played a full season? Quinn (Ottawa 67's) played in the shadow of Marco Rossi. Quinn had a modest rookie year but exploded this season. He has climbed the ladder and is now in some top 10 rankings. Where would he have ended up in the draft rankings had the 67's, Rossi and Quinn played Rimouski (Lafreniere) in the Memorial Cup?

A shortened season favours the older (early birthdate) players. The younger kids (later birthdays) often climb in the rankings during the final stages of the season and especially the playoffs. Byfield, for example, is a 6"4" baby. He is only a few weeks from falling into the 2021 draft. Sanderson, who is shooting up the rankings is also a late birthday.

All of this is missing in trying to evaluate the BPA.

I was hoping the nhl would go back to the old format, for just this year.

Look at Ottawa’s previous years drafting in the top 5..we’ve been screwed.


Last year Avs drafted 4th (when we were the worst team)
2018 when we drafted Brady, we were the 2nd worst in the league.
2011 when we drafted Zib, I think we were 4th worst?

My biggest problem is you’re rewarding all the bubble teams that shouldn’t be in a playoff spot..with shot at the cup.

Further, those who bow out early, have a shot at the lottery.

So what do the bottom 7 teams get exactly?

Our season not only ends early, but we have to work with so many hypotheticals and uncertainties down the stretch.

I don’t care how the NHL is selling it, there will be a HUGE asterisk next to the team who lifts the cup this year.

24 playoff format is a joke to the sport and the integrity of the game.
- Trilla

Yeah 8-15 each have a 12.5% chance at winning the draft. I do believe.as long as they get bounced in robbing round.... im still trying to figure this all out,so i may be wrong. But its appearing we did get charlie browned.

As a sens fan,ive come to the acceptance we will get 5,6. Great reward for year after year of poop.

"The only way this becomes a true Charlie Brown story is if the Maple Leafs lose their play-in matchup and win
the lottery via one of the mystery slots."

.... don't you dare even joke about that.

Jokes aside; I don't really get why so many people are losing their minds. It doesn't really change much for Ottawa.
- PavohnDatsvares

True
that said, no team that didn't make playoffs should have a chance at the top 3, they should only move up 4 spots OR worst case to like #5

I think the Sens are solid on the back end and Chabot will play 26-28 minutes a game for multiple years. Winning a Stanley Cup requires you have three strong guys at centre. There are some very good centres available in this draft. I would like to see the Sens scoop them up. A good centre prospect is easy to move if they ever discovered that they had too many.
- spatso

To be honest I don't want Chabot to play 26-28 mins !

Chabot played the most in the NHL this season at 26 mins!

Past cup winners
2019 - Alex Pietrangelo - 24:05! Colton Parayko - 22:47
2018 - John Carlson - 24:47
2017 - Kris Letang - 25:31 (injured in playoffs)

I think Letang played 26+ in 2016, so it's not to say it's not possible, I just don't want to have Chabot play that much. I'm 100% his body can handle it, but the mind is so important during the playoffs where small errors can cost games

*this also goes back to your point on SMART players. It's huge to have players that can think the game and know how to react; in combination with being clutch or being relentless in the playoffs

I am not impressed with the Senators defense and think they need help here too! Jake Sanderson in the last month has jumped past so many other established draft prospects to the point that some scouts have him ranked as the best D man available. If the Sens do end up with the fifth and sixth pick, Sanderson or Drysdale should be in the conversation verses a short centreman.
- Barrykerr1

the fact that a player has jumped at a time when literally nobody is playing is your first sign to not buy into that ranking. Sanderson should and likely will go in the 9-11 range.....he'll be great but he's not the same tier of prospect as Drysdale

I am not impressed with the Senators defense and think they need help here too! Jake Sanderson in the last month has jumped past so many other established draft prospects to the point that some scouts have him ranked as the best D man available. If the Sens do end up with the fifth and sixth pick, Sanderson or Drysdale should be in the conversation verses a short centreman.
- Barrykerr1

ottawa already has chabot, JBD, bransstrom, thomson, wolanin all as legit top 4, or with significant top 4 potential.

they have a MUCH MUCH MUCH greater need of high skill top 6 forwards. If Ottawa is picking 5/6, i would take 2 of Raymond, Holtz, Rossi, Perfetti before i took one of those 2 dmen. i wouldn't be upset if they took Drysdale, but there is a much greater need at forward.

the fact that a player has jumped at a time when literally nobody is playing is your first sign to not buy into that ranking. Sanderson should and likely will go in the 9-11 range.....he'll be great but he's not the same tier of prospect as Drysdale
- sensarmy_11

Pierre McGuire states otherwise, Sanderson and Drysdale are now neck and neck to be the first D Man picked.

-I believe in the Zib draft sens dropped from 5th to 6th (NJ jumped 8 to 4th). With the two players selected ahead of him being larsson and strome I wouldn’t be too upset there.

-In general I agree that bubble teams shouldn’t be in the lottery. I don’t mind having the 3 lotteries at the current odds but the lottery itself should be restricted to the bottom 10 or maybe 8 to begin with.

-Right now there’s no change for the sens lottery chances compared to a couple months ago. Now if I’m a team like Chicago that was (and I’ll add still is) likely to have a top 10 pick I would be furious. It makes no sense that in the event the hawks and pens are both eliminated in the play in round that they both have the same odds to win a top 3 pick if at least one of them are won by a slot reserved for the eliminated play-in teams.

-For the cup I don’t feel awarding it is as important to the way the league operates as concluding the year in a way that’s fair for all teams, which coincidentally can only be done by finishing the year. A cup only matters to this year, the implications of how we resolve trades, draft picks and other things left in limbo will cause issues for years to come. We’ve already seen the controversy this draft lottery has caused, and for example the Crosby lottery as well. Now throw unresolved trades into the mix and all he’ll breaks loose. As far as integrity goes some might say 5 rounds is harder to win than 4. Either way it still may not be best for the cup but it’s best for the future of the league.

-As far as the 24 team play-in, it likely would have been 22 if 23/24 wasn’t the Montreal/Chicago markets. Not saying that would have been ideal either but you could argue the yotes and Wild deserve your be there.

Feel free to disagree on all this that’s just my opinion
- RedC21

- Thanks for the clarification, ya we were supposed to be drafting 5th and went to 6th for Zib. Ya, that turned out well, but my point was we seem to be cursed when we land in the top 5 :p

- I have no problem with the Sens odds. Like I said, my biggest issue, would be those bubble teams, that get a shot at the cup, and the same ones that bow out early, get a shot at the lottery.

- When I said integrity, I was more talking about the format of having 24 teams compete for the cup. That’s close to 80% of the league! And while 5 rounds is more difficult, 8 of those teams shouldn’t even be in it.

I get the league needs to recoup revenue, but changing the format of the playoffs and the amount of teams that have a shot at it diminishes it. If a team like (God forbid) Montreal makes a run..how do we not put an asterisk next to them?

True
that said, no team that didn't make playoffs should have a chance at the top 3, they should only move up 4 spots OR worst case to like #5
- AlfieisKing

Those 8 teams that get bounced DON'T make the playoffs. They are only given a chance to make the playoffs... the chance that was taken from them when Covid-19 screwed everything up. Let's just wait and see where the lottery balls fall before we freak out. That's my only point.

Pierre McGuire states otherwise, Sanderson and Drysdale are now neck and neck to be the first D Man picked.
- Barrykerr1

If Sanderson gets selected in the top 10, I truly believe it’s because a team needs a d, not because it’s BPA. I’ve got at least 11 guys I’d put before him.

I feel like Mtl would get him, wherever they land.

If Ottawa lands pick #5, #6, and they were deciding between Sanderson and Askarov...

Askarov.

Those 8 teams that get bounced DON'T make the playoffs. They are only given a chance to make the playoffs... the chance that was taken from them when Covid-19 screwed everything up. Let's just wait and see where the lottery balls fall before we freak out. That's my only point.
- PavohnDatsvares

You’re right, so teams like Mtl and Chicago should get the opportunity to potentially get in the playoffs.
Mtl had a 1% chance of making it before the season ended.
So we’re giving them a shot to make it BUT ALSO, a shot at the lottery if they don’t.

Ummm...if they’re getting a shot to get in...they should no longer be given the same odds that they would’ve gotten if they were elminitated from this format.

You’re right, so teams like Mtl and Chicago should get the opportunity to potentially get in the playoffs.
Mtl had a 1% chance of making it before the season ended.
So we’re giving them a shot to make it BUT ALSO, a shot at the lottery if they don’t.

Ummm...if they’re getting a shot to get in...they should no longer be given the same odds that they would’ve gotten if they were elminitated from this format.
- Trilla

While people are saying Montreal and Chicago are getting gifted I think they’re actually getting screwed.

Had the year been cancelled they would have had the 8th/9th best odds to win the regular lottery.

Now if let’s say one of the 3 picks is won by one of those slots Montreal/Chicago now have to go through an additional lottery to get that pick except for in this lottery their odds are the same as the best team that’s eliminated in the play in round. The only way you could consider this a good thing for either team is if you actually believe they are playoff caliber team to begin with