Trevor Shackles: Top 25 Senators Prospects, Part 5: 1-5 Here are the top 5 prospects!

Nice work Trevor.

I’d put Batherson over Brannstrom.

Good Series, kept me coming back to the site during this lull

Looking over the potential roster combinations for next year, it appears there may not be that many roster spots, at least to start the season.

Batherson should be a lock, but after that spots become tighter. Hopefully one of Davidsson or Brown can get a spot, with another player being the 13th forward I think.

my first post, been Lurking for awhile. (remember T.S. from S7)

good list trevor, however why the complete omission of lajoie?

I know he has 3 top guys to leapfrog (hotsam, brann, wolanin)

he looked pretty good for the 1st half of his 50 or so NHL games last year. still relatively young?

this top 10 list does look more inspiring then last years for sure.

not to mention young guys like balcers, veronneau, nick paul, duclair, jaros still in the mix for spots.

Good Series, kept me coming back to the site during this lull

Looking over the potential roster combinations for next year, it appears there may not be that many roster spots, at least to start the season.

Batherson should be a lock, but after that spots become tighter. Hopefully one of Davidsson or Brown can get a spot, with another player being the 13th forward I think.
- david22

listening to dorion interview on TSN yesterday;

looks like 2 d spots available for
brann wolanin lajoie jaros (jaros with inside track being RD and most experience)

2-3 forward spots for;
daviddson formenton batherson brown paul balcers veronneau chlapik etc

going to be an exciting training camp, and belleville should be a playoff team this year too with all the talent that doesnt crack Sens

I always forget about Norris and didn't think he would be ranked this high. It would great if he could become a legit NHLer to have something to show from the Karlsson trade.

To me biggest hole from the overall list is a future superstar. Brannstrom can possibly be that, but up front, there is no guy that seems capable of bing a point per game guy. This can be addressed at the 2020 draft however and some names from this group can be solid compliment players.

No prospect in our system really excites me all that much. I think Brown could be the most dynamic but I was disappointed that he didn't excel last season in the minors.

Good series. Learned something new every post and kept me coming back. Hard to do in the dog days of August.

Nice blog Trevor, good job. I think your team will be fun to watch this year with a tough year ahead. Goaltending may be an issue. On paper the goaltending is right there at the bottom with Columbus.

I always forget about Norris and didn't think he would be ranked this high. It would great if he could become a legit NHLer to have something to show from the Karlsson trade.

To me biggest hole from the overall list is a future superstar. Brannstrom can possibly be that, but up front, there is no guy that seems capable of bing a point per game guy. This can be addressed at the 2020 draft however and some names from this group can be solid compliment players.

No prospect in our system really excites me all that much. I think Brown could be the most dynamic but I was disappointed that he didn't excel last season in the minors.

Good series. Learned something new every post and kept me coming back. Hard to do in the dog days of August.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think Chabot can be that guy or may Brady. The Sens have some nice pieces to start this rebuild and going forward need to get a star goaltender. Not sure if Gustavsson (spelling) can be that guy.

my first post, been Lurking for awhile. (remember T.S. from S7)

good list trevor, however why the complete omission of lajoie?

I know he has 3 top guys to leapfrog (hotsam, brann, wolanin)

he looked pretty good for the 1st half of his 50 or so NHL games last year. still relatively young?

this top 10 list does look more inspiring then last years for sure.

not to mention young guys like balcers, veronneau, nick paul, duclair, jaros still in the mix for spots.
- Torontosensfan

Lajoie has played over 25 games and isn't eligible for this list anymore. Thanks for reading!

I think Chabot can be that guy or may Brady. The Sens have some nice pieces to start this rebuild and going forward need to get a star goaltender. Not sure if Gustavsson (spelling) can be that guy.
- joegreif17

They aren't in the "system" anymore, which was my focus more. That said, I think Chabot is solid, but not sure he will reach the super star level. Tkachuck will just be a fan favourite top 6 forward. Doesn't have the natural skill to be a superstar. Nothing wrong with that. Chabot is probably the closest.

Nabbing Lafererare (sp?) or Byfielf at the 2020 draft could alleviate the star hole.

Trevor - Thanks for this series of posts on the Senators prospects. You did a great job of slotting the prospects into order.

I wish I was as horny on Brown and Batherson as you are. I see both players as middle 6 forwards at best. I hope I'm wrong.

My main beef with our prospect pool is that we seem to have so many 'meh' players that are all so similar to each other.

IMO
- Brannstrom is our best prospect by a LARGE margin.

- Norris is the most likely to succeed. Brown and Batherson have higher ceilings, but I think Norris has the best chance of REACHING his ceiling.

- And I think Abramov is the dark horse. If he can put it all together, I think he has the chance to be our best forward out of the current group.

I wish I was as horny on Brown and Batherson as you are. I see both players as middle 6 forwards at best. I hope I'm wrong.

My main beef with our prospect pool is that we seem to have so many 'meh' players that are all so similar to each other.

IMO
- Brannstrom is our best prospect by a LARGE margin.

- Norris is the most likely to succeed. Brown and Batherson have higher ceilings, but I think Norris has the best chance of REACHING his ceiling.

- And I think Abramov is the dark horse. If he can put it all together, I think he has the chance to be our best forward out of the current group.
- PavohnDatsvares

Agree that there are a lot of middle-six guys and that they need more upside. However, I question why you're so low on Batherson after scoring over a PPG in his first AHL season?

Attended bbq yesterday including friends and relatives that I see about once a year. More positive Sens talk than I have heard in several years. Fans clearly separate Dorion and his staff from Melnyk.

Strong bias in favour of playing young guys and being patient in rebuilding through the draft. Nobody expects Melnyk to last more than a few days as owner once the Seattle franchise fee has been paid out.

Far more enthusiasm for the Lassi Thompson draft pick than I would have thought.

Also surprised to hear that some fans who have been "on strike against Melnyk" with regard to buying tickets have decided to resume attending games this coming season.

Sens have a great fan base. It has gone underground for the past few seasons. I believe it about to come roaring back. Success does not have to come in the form of winning as much as it comes in the acceleration of hope.

Melnyk has pretty much disappeared since LeBretton was blown up and lawsuits were filed. The renewal of Sens enthusiasm is clearly dependent on Melnyk staying away.

Melnyk has no goodwill left regarding the team with the fans.

Hopefully he quietly disappears after the Seattle franchise fee gets settled.

I like the young Sens team. I think they'll pleasantly surprise.

Agree that there are a lot of middle-six guys and that they need more upside. However, I question why you're so low on Batherson after scoring over a PPG in his first AHL season?
- Trevor Shackles

I'm not necessarily low on Batherson. If I recall, in your synopsis of him in the top 25 prospects series, you thought he'd be a first line right winger. I just think that might be wishful thinking.

I think on a second line with a really good 1B center, he could have a lot of success. Take Toronto for example. If Drake was on a second line with Matthews or Tavares... it worked for both Hyman and Johnsson, as I believe they each achieved a 20 goal campaign in such an ideal situation.

I will gladly eat my words if Batherson blossoms into an 80 point, top line player.

I'm not necessarily low on Batherson. If I recall, in your synopsis of him in the top 25 prospects series, you thought he'd be a first line right winger. I just think that might be wishful thinking.

I think on a second line with a really good 1B center, he could have a lot of success. Take Toronto for example. If Drake was on a second line with Matthews or Tavares... it worked for both Hyman and Johnsson, as I believe they each achieved a 20 goal campaign in such an ideal situation.

I will gladly eat my words if Batherson blossoms into an 80 point, top line player.
- PavohnDatsvares

He's a consensus top 20/30 prospect in the league, I don't really think that translates to a 2nd liner, that's all. Putting over a PPG in the AHL as a 20-year-old is not easy.

Does anyone know when the Seattle expansion fee is paid to owners?

I want you to compare Tkachuk to Tavares in year 1, of the NHL.

Tavares #1 draft pick, scored 24 goals and 54 points in 82 games.
Tkachuk #4 draft pick, scored 22 goals and 45 points in 72 games.

I don't think anyone wanted a refund on the 1st overall pick for NYI fans. Why aren't we more excited? Here is a comparable for Tkachuk, with the caveat that I love the way and where on the ice Brady plays, MORE, than I like how Tavares plays.