Defence the top option – Sportsnet.ca

It’s been three years since the Ottawa Senators have had a top-10 pick in the NHL Draft. 

And unless things change between now and Friday evening, general manager Steve Staios and his staff plan to make a selection at No. 7 overall. 

But, as always, these things are fluid until the pick goes down. 

Up until then, there will be no shortage of teams willing to take it off Ottawa’s hands with a trade offer. 

“We’ve had plenty of interest in the pick,” Staios said, via a Zoom call with Ottawa media on Wednesday. “If that opportunity comes up and we like what the return is, then we would think about it. 

“There is a little bit of a question on what the (player) order might be at this point. But everybody would love to move into the top 10.”

As you know, there is consensus on the first-overall pick, with Macklin Celebrini expected to go to the San Jose Sharks. After that there are varied opinions on the rollout on the subsequent picks in the top 10. And beyond, for that matter. 

Take a look at some of the mock drafts posted and you’ll see a lot of different possibilities for player selections. That means teams will have to adjust on the fly if a player becomes available they didn’t expect to be there. 

It also means a club like Ottawa can think about moving down a few spots if the Senators feel they can still get one of their favoured players from a ninth- or 10th-overall position. 

By the way, if you’re wondering how the Senators feel about drafting a Russian player, should one of the elite Russian prospects fall back, this is what Staios had to say about that.

“We’ll put the players in order no matter what their nationality is,” Staios said. 

Senators 2024 Draft picks

Rdund 1 (seventh overall), Round 2 (39), Round 4 (104, 112, 117) and Round 5 (136). 

Round 1 options

Now that Staios has addressed his goaltending question by landing Linus Ullmark, he can turn his attention to his greatest need – defence and the bottom-six forward position. 

Short term, that will come via trade this week and next, plus through free agency, which begins on Monday. 

But Staios wants to stock up on some young talent at all positions and will most likely draft a defenceman with his first pick, given the number of good ones in this draft. 

Will it be Zeev Biuim, the slick defenceman out of the University of Denver, who already has world junior experience with Team USA? With 50 points, including 11 goals, Biuim led all NCAA defencemen and helped lead Denver to an NCAA title. He also won gold with the U.S., producing five points and +11 in seven WJC games. 

As with all potential picks for the Senators, so much depends on how the first six picks go. No one knows until they roll out. 

Perhaps the stars will align for them to pick Sam Dickinson, the six-foot-three, left-shot defenceman for the OHL champion London Knights who delivered 70 points in 68 games. Dickinson had a very strong Memorial Cup for London and doesn’t lack confidence. 

“I have full belief and faith in myself that I’m the best defenceman in the draft,” Dickinson told the London Free Press. 

Others believe the Sens would pounce on a chance to land Zayne Parekh, the point-producing machine with the OHL Saginaw Spirit, winners of that Mem Cup showdown with London. Named top defenceman in the OHL, Parekh scored 33 goals and had 63 assists for 96 points in 66 games. Parekh has some Erik Karlsson similarities, a smallish (six foot) defenceman who can really skate but has a heavy shot as well. 

What’s your preference or top need –  a classic, big defenceman in the traditional mold or a smaller guy that can wheel and anchor the power play?

At forward, Cayden Lindstrom is a top-10 centre from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. He may be gone by No. 7, he’s big, strong and skilled, although he missed a lot of time with injuries this season. Lindstrom still managed 46 points in 32 games. 

If you like good bloodlines, you can’t go wrong with winger Tij Iginla, son of Jarome. Iginla had a tremendous season with the WHL Kelowna Rockets. Like his father, Tij can shoot the puck, scoring 47 times in 64 games, with 84 total points.

Last year’s first pick: D Hoyt Stanley, West Vancouver, B.C.

Having traded away its early picks, Ottawa didn’t get a selection in 2023 until round 4, at 108 overall. The Sens took six-foot-three defenceman Hoyt Stanley out of the BCHL (Victoria). Stanley had a solid 2023-24 NCAA season with Cornell, playing in 35 games and contributing 10 points. He has grown to 200 pounds and is a right-shot D. One to keep an eye on. 

A bold prediction

Will the Senators surrender that No. 7 pick to add a draft choice or player via trade while dropping down a couple of spots? While the odds are against it, it says here it could happen because a team ups the ante to get a certain player at and Ottawa feels comfortable moving back and still getting a strong pick. Bring on the offers!