Ottawa Senators go big, here’s scoop on each of their NHL Draft picks

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Size apparently matters for the Ottawa Senators.

After going with 6-foot-3 right-shot defenceman Carter Yakemchuk with their first pick in the NHL Draft Friday night, the Ottawa Senators continued to get bigger Saturday.

With five more draft picks, the Senators grabbed a 6-foot-7 defenceman, a 6-foot-4 defenceman and three wingers who are 6-foot-2 and up.

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How many of the Senators’ draft class of 2024 will ever play for them? Patience, it takes time. It’s always a guessing game when you’re trying to project what a teenage hockey player can do when he has to mature toward the professional game. Even if a player does make the necessary adjustments, it often takes three, four, maybe five years before he cracks an NHL lineup.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the Senators’ draft crop:

CARTER YAKEMCHUK (First round, seventh overall)
POSITION: Defence
TEAM: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
BORN: Fort McMurray, Alta.
SIZE: 6-foot-3
SHOOTS: Right
RANKING: 11th-ranked North American skater
JUST THE FACTS: 30 goals (most by a defenceman in the league) and 41 assists.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING REPORT: “A big, mobile and active defenceman who often leads his team in time on ice. A strong skater that likes to have the puck on his stick. A confident puck carrier. Has the ability to beat defenders one-on-one with speed and dangles. He is deployed on special teams and is a huge asset on the power play from the offensive-zone blue line. Drives his team’s offence as he distributes the puck well and creates scoring chances for teammates with his accurate and creative reads. In the defensive zone, he can handle speed off the rush and win battles along the boards and in front of the net. Possesses an NHL tool set.”
THE SENS SAY: Senators scout George Fargher said: “We really liked his skill with the puck, his ability to shoot the puck. He’s a big right-handed shot, he has good offensive upside. He fills a need.”

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GABRIEL ELIASSON (second round, 39th overall)
POSITION: Defence
TEAM: HV71, Sweden junior
BORN: Kungsbacka, SWE
SIZE: 6-foot-7, 206 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
RANKING: 29th-ranked international skater
JUST THE FACTS: Had a goal and five assists while playing in Sweden’s top junior league in 2023-24 and finished as the league’s most penalized player (103 PIM) … Committed to the University of Michigan for the 2025-26 season.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING REPORT: “Huge “stay-at-home” type of defenceman who stands out with his size and physical play. He is very effective in battles in front of the net and along the boards. Likes to hit and play physical, sometimes even gritty. A surprisingly mobile and speedy skater for a player of his size. Very competitive with good understanding of the game, plays his position well. Room for improvement in his passing and puck-handling game. Solid and reliable.”
THE SENS SAY: “I really, really like this guy,” said Fargher: ‘He’s a big physical, strong defenceman who enjoys hitting and playing hard. He likes the big hit, he rides guys out along the boards.” Said scout Anders Ostberg. “He’s a huge kid who’s going to fill out and be a monster.

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LUCAS ELLINAS (fourth round, 104th overall)
POSITION: Winger
TEAM: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
BORN: Toronto
SIZE: 6-foot-2, 198 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
RANKING: 88th-ranked North American skater
JUST THE FACTS: Had 16 goals and 17 assists with the Rangers; was acquired from the Barrie Colts in a trade before last season began.
THE SENS SAY: “He’s probably going to be a bottom-six guy, he’s a high-character kid,” said scout Kyle Flanagan. “He’s a 200-foot player. He’s still raw, his skating still has to come along. He just works like a dog, does not lose battles.”

JAVON MOORE (fourth round, 112th overall)
POSITION: Winger
TEAM: Minnetonka High School
BORN: St. Louis Park, Minn
SIZE: 6-foot-3, 203 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
RANKING 47th-ranked North American skater
STATPACK: First on his high school team in goals (26), third in assists (27) in 28 games. Committed to the University of Minnesota for the upcoming season.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING: “Good size forward that is a dominant player because of his smooth skating and puck skills. Able to beat players with a power or finesse style game. Shows a nice scoring touch and when he is around the net, possesses the skills to consistently finish. A very complete player.”
THE SENS SAY: “I’ve seen him play a lot,” said scout Dan Boeser. “He’s a really big kid and he’s still growing – we were told today he’s grown about half an inch since the (NHL) combine. We didn’t think he’d be there (when we picked), we were extremely happy to get him where we did. Tremendous upside in this kid.”

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BLAKE MONTGOMERY (fourth round, 117th overall)
POSITION: Winger
TEAM: Lincoln (USHL)
BORN: Annapolis, MD
SIZE: 6-foot-4, 180 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
RANKING: 101st-ranked North American skater
JUST THE FACTS: Tied for first in goals (22) and third in points (43) in 58 games for Lincoln. Committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2025-26, he’s the younger brother of defenceman Bryce Montgomery, a sixth-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021.
THE SENS SAY: “He’s a good-sized kid, a terrific skater,” said scout Bob Janecyk. “There’s a lot of upside. It’s a hard league to score goals in for a first-year player in prep school.

EERIK WALLENIUS (fifth round, 136th overall)
POSITION: Defence
TEAM: HPK Hameenlinna
BORN: Salo, FIN
SIZE: 6-foot-4, 211 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
RANKING: 41st-ranked international skater
JUST THE FACTS: Hasn’t shown much in the way of offence, but he’s got size.
THE SENS SAY: “He took a big step forward this season,” said scout Mikko Ruutu. “He started with the under-18 team, then played on the under-20 team and finished the season with a pro team. He’s an interesting kid, a big boy.”

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LOCAL CONTENT: There were several players with Ottawa-area connections selected in the draft. Kanata’s Cole Beaudoin (centre, Barrie Colts) was taken 24th overall by Utah. Dean Latourneau (St. Andrew’s College), a 6-foot-7 centre who’s from Braeside and played for the Renfrew Wolves and Ottawa Valley Titans, was taken 25th overall by Boston. The Seattle Kraken took Ottawa centre Nathan Villeneuve (Sudbury Wolves) 63rd overall. Ottawa 67’s defenceman Henry Mews, who’s also from Ottawa, was picked 74th by Calgary. Arnprior’s Connor Clattenburg (Flint Firebirds winger) was picked in the fifth round (160th overall) by Edmonton. Antoine Dorion, the son of former Senators GM Pierre Dorion, was picked in the seventh round (209th) by St. Louis.

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