Everything we know about the 2024 Ottawa Senators draft class

Editor's note: After a week to digest, here is your comprehensive look at the Ottawa Senators' 2024 draft class. To re-visit any of our coverage, click here. Thanks for coming along the ride with us! – nkb

There is a strong theme that reverberates across the newest Ottawa Senators prospects: players with plenty of room for growth and development – literally, in terms of growing into their frame, and figuratively in the way layers can be added to each of their games. Ottawa's hope is that they'll be able to polish these gems into diamonds, even if some of the rocks are rough around the edges right now.

In this piece, we'll spend most of our time breaking down the Senators' five picks from rounds two through five. Enjoy!

Note: Quotes attributed to members of the Senators scouting staff originally appeared in Tim Baines' article for PostMedia and were partly sourced from the YouTube video below.

7th overall: Carter Yakemchuk, RD – 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, 09/25/2005 – Calgary Hitmen, WHL

From Ottawa Senators scout, George Fargher:

“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.”

39th overall: Gabriel Eliasson, LD – 6-foot-7, 207 pounds, 09/09/2006 – HV-71, J20 Nationell

Background: With the biggest swing of the entire 2024 NHL Draft, the Senators drafted Gabriel Eliasson for his gifted physical tools, a mean streak that you can't teach, and the hope of adding just about everything else to his game. Usually, top players out of Sweden play in the TV-Pucken tournament as 15-year-olds, but Eliasson wasn't even on the radar at that point – toiling away in the Division II Hanhals IF system before catching the eye of HV-71. This season, Eliasson played 36 games in the J20 Nationell, while suiting up for Sweden at the Hlinka Grezky and U18s – a recognition of his unique qualities despite his unimpressive boxcar statistics.

Data: Eliasson recorded a goal and five assists in the J20 Nationell, and finished as the league’s most penalized player with 103 PIM. Lauded as one of the toughest players to ever come out of Sweden, Eliasson was supposedly the talk of the town at every international tournament he played at, with scouts loving the mobility for a player his size and the fact that he was the draft's youngest player – being only six days away from eligibility for the 2025 NHL Draft. Eliasson's penchant for penalty minutes was the primary way he impacted the scoresheet at those tournaments, especially given the IIHF's strict rules for after-the-whistle shenanigans, but teams are hoping they can rein in the discipline while keeping the punishing physicality. The Sens are hoping that his puck-handling ability will come as he grows into his frame, as opposed to being a processing issue – they'll get a really good judge of that on North American ice.

What's next? Eliasson is one of the rare Swedes that will be making the post-draft jump to North America immediately: he'll either take the NCAA route, as he was drafted by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL and is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2025-26 season OR suit up for the Niagara IceDogs in the OHL, as he was taken in Wednesday's CHL Import Draft.

Scouts say:

Ottawa Senators amateur scout, George Fargher:

“I really, really like this guy, 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.”

Ottawa Senators amateur scout, Anders Ostberg:

“He’s a huge kid who’s going to fill out and be a monster.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach, Mark Carlson:

"He has just scratched the surface as far as his potential; he plays extremely hard and has a good simple first pass, and I mean that as a big compliment, takes a ton of pride in his defense, and his physicality and the fact that he's not a very nice customer."

From RecruitScouting's Gabe Foley:

"Eliasson offers a ton of speed, mobility, and shiftiness in his big frame, helping him match pace and keep attackers from burning him. He’s smooth in picking up the puck and generally reliable in driving it down the ice, though he’s a bit slow to move laterally with the puck and can struggle to read all of his passing options. Eliasson is certainly unrefined, but his mobility, frame, and ability to support the rush are very enticing."

The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

"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 [...] 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. LOTS of improvement needed, but hopefully that is coachable."

From McKeen's:

"Eliasson is an agent of chaos. Think back to the mid to late 90’s when guys like Derian Hatcher and Scott Stevens were running roughshod. Eliasson would have fit right in with those times. Is that a compliment? To some, it’s going to be. To others, it won’t be. Eliasson is so physically aggressive that he crosses the line between effective and reckless quite frequently. At the Five Nations, he was solid, playing aggressive, but still in control. At the U18’s, he was, quite frankly, not good at all as he routinely put Sweden at a disadvantage with his disregard for control. The thing is, when he plays a more refined game, he is quite effective defensively because he moves well for a 6’ 7”, physical defender. He can be quick to close on puck carriers and this makes him a suffocating presence. Offensively, he’s an adventure at times. His decision making will need to improve. Point production will never be his calling card. But we like that he’s coming to the USHL next year to play with Cedar Rapids, before going to the University of Michigan. We feel that his game can grow on North American ice."

From EliteProspects draft guide:

"His outrageous physical game made him the chatter of almost every international tournament he participated in. NHL teams desire hard, violent, 6-foot-6 defencemen to defend their zone, especially when they’re reasonably mobile like Eliasson. But to one day make the league and keep a stop, he will need to become more disciplined. Eliasson can be guilty of accumulating more penalty minutes and crosschecks than puck touches in some games. And his routine trips to the box can sink his team’s chance of winning a hockey game. His violence is a way for him to compensate for his slower processing of the game. He hooks when he gets beat 1-on-1 or moves a step late on a play and goes out of his way to land hits when he should maintain his position and scan the ice for attackers slipping behind him. His reads and handling skills will have to improve significantly and his ability to spot outlets and beat forechecking and defensive pressure, too. Calling Eliasson’s game raw would be an understatement. There’s no projectable offence in it and the off-puck defensive game is also a work in progress. But when evaluating him, we have to keep in mind that he’s one of the youngest players in the draft class and that 6-foot-6 defenders like him usually take more time to hone their game and grow in their frame. By the time Eliasson reaches maturity, his mobility could become a significant asset, making him just the type of bottom-pair shutdown defenceman that can turn the front of the net into a hurt zone. “More than most, Eliasson is a player that you draft on pure long-term potential with for his height, skating and physicality,” wrote Elite Prospects Swedish scout Jimmy Hamrin in a February game report. “I also think he has some good sense and understands the game well. He just isn’t able to get everything together at once yet.” 

104th overall: Luke Ellinas, LW – 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, 03/12/2006 – Kitchener Rangers, OHL

Background: When you're on the Sens side of a split Maple Leafs-Senators household in the Greater Toronto Area, you know that Luke Ellinas is already on his way to being a fan favourite in Ottawa. Picked 29th in the 2022 OHL Draft by the Barrie Colts, Ellinas was acquired by the Kitchener Rangers prior to the start of the 2023-24 season and rewarded GM Mike McKenzie instantly – recording 33 points in 67 games in a middle-six role, leading Kitchener's fourth-ranked penalty kill, and working himself onto the second unit of the powerplay. As the season continued, as did Ellinas' play, with his best hockey coming in the playoffs with 8 points in 10 games. Ellinas won his team's awards for "best performer in the playoffs" and "player who exhibits outstanding team effort", which tells you a lot about his leadership ability among his peers despite this being his rookie season.

Data: Ellinas worked to overhaul his skating stride heading into the 2022 OHL Draft, elongating it for improved power, and it shows – he needs his feet in order to play the worker-bee style of game he prefers. In Mitch Brown's tracking data, Ellinas has dual-threat qualities: strong offensive involvement on zone entries and on the forecheck, the vision to make his teammates better, and a diverse shooting skillset.

What's next? Ellinas is scheduled to play at least two more seasons with Kitchener in the OHL, where he'll work to bring the Rangers a coveted OHL Championship alongside 2023 draft pick Matthew Andonovski before turning pro at age 20.

Scouts say:

Ottawa Senators amateur scout, Kyle Flanagan:

“He’s probably going to be a bottom-six guy, he’s a high-character kid. 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.”

From HockeyProspect.com:

"Ellinas showed major progression as the season progressed, displaying his strong shot with a quick release in his snapshot that he likes to take deep in the offensive zone. For more of his wrist shots, it takes him more time to load up and they typically wield the same power which he should correct for any chance to score at a greater pace. In terms of processing pace, he could use some work and needs to get better at making decisions with the puck on his stick. Coming out of the zone, Ellinas has some trouble in pass reception which either resets his team or causes a turnover. His skating is the roughest part of his game with heavy feet and choppy skating mechanics. It has improved from the beginning of the season, but he still has trouble on his feet and is often behind the play. Despite this, he does have a quick stick but will need more hip mobility to be able to make better cuts deep in the offensive zone. On the penalty kill he can be too aggressive which with a slow skating speed he cannot make up for any over commitment and cannot block shots well because he is too late getting there. The skating and IQ hurt his projectability as a whole and despite his obvious progression, he still has too many skills under construction to be considered by us at this time. He will need to fix his foot speed first to have a chance moving up the ranks and into the draft conversation."

Taahaa of Recruit Scouting:

“Hidden within an OHL rookie with 5 fights this season is one of the draft’s more intriguing prospects. Luke Ellinas pairs one of the better shots in this draft class with solid hands. He has good vision, but his playmaking is often extremely inconsistent, and as a result, currently hard to project. He would greatly benefit from adding speed to his game and overall must figure out how to put himself in high-danger positions to score more often. Ellinas is a prime breakout candidate in Kitchener next season and is worth a late-round selection for a team that sees potential for him as a bottom-six NHLer. 

The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

"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."

From EliteProspects draft guide:

"An NHL-calibre shot and work rate are Ellinas’ standout elements. He adjusts to tricky passes to fire instantly and fires powerful quick-release wristers off the rush. Then, he collides with opponents and sprints back into the play to regain possession. He’s also a confident puckhandler, most visible when he’s pulling pucks off the wall to escape the cycle. Playmaking and deception aren’t consistent parts of Ellinas’ game, which often leaves him stuck to the perimeter and settling for long-range shots. There are flashes that could be expanded in a big role. “He manipulated the defence a couple of times, once by pulling the defender wide before accelerating and slipping the puck back into space,” Elite Prospects Dir. of North American scouting Mitchell Brown wrote in February. “Worked give-and-gos and identified the open teammate in the slot.” Expanding upon these flashes could make Ellinas a high-end OHL scorer in the next two seasons. Maybe he doesn’t have enough speed or edge work, but that extra level of dynamism could be enough to make Ellinas into a third-line winger in the NHL."

112th overall: Javon Moore, LW – 6-foot-4, 203 pounds, 12/07/2005 – Minnetonka High School, USHS

Background: Born and raised in Minnesota, Javon Moore is seeking to be the next star from the State of Hockey.

Data: One of just two draftees directly from the renowned Minnesota high school hockey system alongside teammate Hagen Burrows (128th overall by Tampa Bay), Moore was a finalist for Minnesota's "Mr. Hockey" award this season, recording 26 goals and 53 points in 28 games this season for Minnetonka High. Those aren't elite numbers – there were 51 players who scored above 2.00 points-per-game in the high school circuit this year – but few blended Moore's combination of physicality, explosiveness, and puck-handling ability.

What's next? Moore is scheduled to play with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL next season, where he suited up for three games at the end of this season, before playing for his hometown University of Minnesota Gophers in 2025-26. It'll be fascinating to watch how he adapts his physical game when playing against older competition – Moore will no longer be bigger and stronger than everyone on the ice, so seeing if he can use his feet to push play inside and his frame to protect the puck will be key at the next level.

Scouts say:

Ottawa Senators amateur scout, Dan Boeser:

“I’ve seen him play a lot; 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.”

From McKeen's:

"Moore is such an impressive athlete. Give Moore an inch and he takes a mile. He has a mature attacking mindset. He identifies quickly when defenders don’t have him gapped up and, in those scenarios, he explodes into openings to create chances, often looking to get the puck to the middle or the net. His first step quickness is very impressive. Moore gallops to top speed in an instant, but his hands already work in sync with his legs. For that reason, high school defenders have a tough time boxing him in. An impactful off puck player, he uses his speed well to close in on blueliners at the point and he has a very active stick that helps him be disruptive as opposing players try to get into the middle. There’s certainly more room for him to grow as a physical player; in fact, it will likely be a necessity for him as he climbs the ladder. Moore will also need to learn to slow the game down a bit as he moves forward. Plays can die on his stick as he tries to force plays. His vision and decision making have been questioned. From a finishing perspective, he doesn’t always catch pucks cleanly either and has a tendency to fire off the toe or heel of the blade when pressured. Just how effective will Moore be offensively when the size/speed combination is neutralized?"

From RecruitScouting's Gabe Foley:

"Javon Moore has grown into a really interesting prospect. He’s always had great power-skating and good agility, but he’s added a healthy boost of confidence when engaging aggressively and physically in the offensive zone. He’s clearly working to find how he can best use his size, without losing any of the speed or skill that’s defined his game for the last few years. That kind of growth is very encouraging to see in such a young player, especially one that hasn’t yet been exposed to the rigors of a juniors weight room. But it’s also not hard to see that inexperience in Moore, who can lack direction or poise when off of the puck. Moore has a style worth buying into, and is clearly putting in the work, but he needs the polish of a tougher level before we can confidently see what he is. It’s never comfortable betting on a player twice – in this case, hoping he adjusts well to both juniors and pros – and so I’ll rank Moore a bit lower, despite his upside being certainly higher than some of his peers in this range."

From Minnetonka coach Sean Goldsworthy:

“Anyone that has watched Javon knows that he’s one of the more dynamic players in high school hockey. He’s got a lot of offensive instincts and a lot of God-given talent, from his skating to his vision to his ability to finish a play. We’re pretty excited about his opportunity to go play for Bob at the U of M.”

From David Saad of Dobber Prospects:

“Javon Moore is a tough one to pin down for a lot of reasons. He’s a really booming athlete with a lot of immediate appeal. He skates hard, he fights hard, he shoots hard all of that is great; but the hockey sense is really up in the air. Moore has not really been challenged to adapt at the high school level and he’s been able to get by so far on just simply being more athletic then his competition. His commitment to the University of Minnesota means he may bypass the USHL all together, resulting in a monumental jump in competition. Few players available this year can match his combination of speed, size and skill, and he may have top 6 upside if it all works out; but this is definitely a swing for the fences.”

From David Phillips of FC Hockey:

“Moore is a slick playmaker whose game oozes confidence and creativity. He often uses head fakes and deceptive moves to find teammates open in space. He combines this with his vision to find some pretty incredible passing lanes, keeping the defense on their toes whenever he has the puck on his stick. Despite being an offensive menace, Moore is no slouch defensively.”

The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

"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."

From EliteProspects draft guide:

"Transitionally, Moore’s game is full of large-area handling and separation as he stretches his stride out to create power. While he loses some efficiency by heel-kicking off the recovery, this is a crafty player who utilizes delay elements to open room and disrupt gaps, blending slip-passing and saucer feeds through layers. He hunts for give-and-goes across his line, allowing him to drive dangerous areas of the ice with his size and find soft areas of the ice to get into a position to shoot off the pass. His playmaking is his best asset and already quite advanced. While Moore patterns into junior-level habits, taking inefficient outside shots or forcing a funnel to the inside of the ice, his skill is still very apparent, particularly his shooting. Unlocking his arm from his hip, syncing his weight transfer and downforce pressure, Moore’s shot is mechanically refined. He blends curl-and-drag efforts, changing angles slightly. Combine that with the ability to shoot across his body, and he’s an even more dangerous threat. There is a surprising amount of detail across the Minnetonka product’s game. There’s a lot of effort to improve the condition of the puck, linking handles and capitalizing on the available advantages. “He walked out of the corner, targeted and deked a defender across their back, cut to the goal line, working a defensive triangle handle but just lost control on the backhand,” Gee mentioned in the same report as earlier. “Wild play to see a big forward make.” Moore’s physical game is a work in progress. Although he absolutely buried opponents at times this season, there was a reluctance to leverage his size consistently. On too many occasions, he passed up physical opportunities to wear down defenders and assert himself. Nevertheless, there is a budding protection game here; it just is in its early form, something he will have to work on in the future."

117th overall: Blake Montgomery, C – 6-foot-4, 181 pounds, 05/04/2005 – Lincoln Stars, USHL

Background: The first Bermudian drafted into the NHL, Blake Montgomery took in the draft festivities from a sandy beach. This was his second year of draft-eligibility, having been passed over last year while playing prep hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy – home of 2022 draft pick Cameron O'Neill – where playing middle-six minutes. With Lincoln, Montgomery suited up as a top-six left-winger for most of the season, missing a few games in November with a concussion that he used to reset his game.

Data: By all accounts, Montgomery's physical toolkit changed a ton this year, as the 19-year-old grew into his 6-foot-4, 181 pound frame. It's quite rare to see a player outscore their prep school numbers (0.63 points-per-game) against tougher competition in the USHL (0.74 points-per-game), but Montgomery did just that. His 2.83 shots-per-game ranked 21st across the entire league, and indicates Montgomery's ability to motor around the ice to get himself in good positions to get pucks on target.

What's next? For now, it looks like Montgomery is planning to return to the Lincoln Stars for a final USHL season, before joining the freshman class at the University of Wisconsin in 2025-26. Some were hoping that he'd follow in his brother Bryce's footsteps and join the London Knights, where Montgomery was drafted in 2021, or the more local Maine Blake Bears, where he was initially committed to as a player growing up in Maryland. In a heartfelt interview with a university news outlet, Blake spoke about the special connection he had with Wisconsin where his uncle Mark played fullback for a Badgers team that won the 1994 Rose Bowl. Wisconsin hockey is on the upswing after hiring Mike Hastings before the 2023-24 season, doubling their win totals from 13 in 2022-23 to 26. Hastings is a three-time winner of the NCAA's coach of the year award after taking Minnesota State to eight NCAA Tournaments and a Championship appearance in 2022, after leading the Omaha Lancers to six trophies in 14 seasons prior to that. By all accounts, it'll be a good place for Montgomery's ongoing development, and I'd expect him to at least spend two seasons there before turning pro.

Scouts say:

Ottawa Senators amateur scout, Bob Janecyk:

"He’s a good-sized kid, a terrific skater; there’s a lot of upside. It’s a hard league to score goals in for a first-year player in prep school."

Lincoln Stars head coach, Rocky Russo:

“Blake was a big reason why we had the success that we did, and I can’t say enough good things about how far his game grew this season. Obviously he’s a big body, and he can possess pucks. But he’s also a very responsible player and pays attention to the small details, so we saw that evolution and development throughout the season. And Blake is willing to do whatever it takes to be an elite player. He still has a long way to go with his game, but to know what he’s already capable of doing in our league and can potentially do next season, that’s exciting.”

From HockeyProspect.com:

"After trudging through lower line usage and a tough start, Montgomery became one of the lead catalysts for puck, carrying and production down the stretch for the Stars. A wiry 6’3”, 180 pounds, Blake has really improved his skating over the past 12 months. At the top end, he can blow past a large chunk of USHL participants. He’s competitive for loose pucks and flashes some punishing physicality. The overall athleticism looks fairly raw still. Even his skating stance is narrow and a bit wobbly. It’s not terribly hard to knock him off balance still, as he’s mostly arms and legs."

The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

"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."

From EliteProspects draft guide:

"One of the most dynamic transition attackers in this guide, Montgomery’s powerful crossover burst, high pace, and creative handling enable him to get defenders moving in the wrong direction and instantly punish them. He cuts inside, powers behind them on his way to the net, and always goes out of his way to win body positioning. Though he’s more of a shooter, he’s a skilled playmaker, spotting high-value cross-slot seams and slipping pucks through defenders. Montgomery has the details and work rate to support his rush game in the NHL, too. “His speed’s dangerous, amplified by his willingness to fight for positioning, timed high dashes, and consistent reloading and speed building under the puck,” Elite Prospects Dir. of North American scouting Mitchell Brown wrote in a February game report. “The defence continues to impress. He forces steals up top with his speed and always works down the wall and supports. Forces a lot of mistakes.” Though he’s older, Montgomery is still a very raw player. His in-zone offence is mostly that of a supporting player; he’s still figuring out how to attack the middle from the cycle and set up more chances. Though fast, he’s still a sometimes awkward skater who lacks stability. But all that only gives him more runway. It’s easy to see Montgomery in the NHL. He could be a middle-six power forward with speed and skill, a stifling defensive player, or a checking line winger. No matter the outcome, we’re fascinated to see what the future holds for this rapidly improving winger."

136th overall: Eerik Wallenius, LD – 6-foot-4, 211 pounds, 01/16/2006 – HPK, U18/20 SM-Sarja

Background: A late bloomer, Eerik Wallenius' marked growth throughout his draft season is probably what saw him get drafted – going from 37 games in Finland's U18 league to 14 games in the U20 league, and ending with one game against men in Liiga.

Data: The jump in points-per-game (0.38 at U18 level to 0.57 at U20 level) indicates nascent offensive ability, as EliteProspects' Director of European Scouting, Lassi Alanen, notes:

Eerik Wallenius, picked by Senators, is a big-bodied defenceman who came out of nowhere during the 2nd half of the season. Kills plays with his reach and physicality, but also likes to activate and has the desire to move the puck with control. Extremely raw, a lot of unknowns.

What's next? Wallenius' contract with HPK runs until the end of the 2025-26 season, with an option to re-up for 26-27, so expect him to develop in Finland for at least two more seasons unless there's a surprise pick in the CHL Import Draft in his future.

Scouts say:

Ottawa Senators Chief European Scout, Mikko Ruutu:

"He took a big step forward this season; 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.”

From McKeen's, who had Wallenius ranked 123rd on their list:

"One of the best value draft picks of the past five years was Carolina selecting defenseman Alexander Nikishin 69th overall in 2020. At the time Nikishin had unparalleled physical tools but was still refining his actual hockey skills, and in the years since he has blossomed remarkably, becoming one of the best defensemen in the world outside of the NHL. We'll probably never see an outcome quite like that again, but if an NHL team wants to try cooking with the same recipe this year, Wallenius should be their guy. Like Nikishin, he is a gargantuan blueliner who can easily maul his opponents but is also a deceptively good skater and puck handler. There's a certain kind of fiery edge to his game, where you can see that he's already becoming aware of the natural advantages he has. Even though he's unpolished right now his trajectory is encouraging, as he started the season in Finland's top U18 league before moving to their U20 league and then even to the professional Liiga for a game, where he didn't look out of place. Wallenius makes a ton of sense as a pick in the middle rounds because he's so unique for this draft class."

The Athletic's Corey Pronman:

"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."

From EliteProspects draft guide:

"[Wallenius is] still extremely raw as a prospect. At 6-foot-4, he has the coveted size for a defenceman, combined with a desire to move the puck with control and control the game from the backend while occasionally chipping in offensively, too. He activated occasionally down the middle to join rushes and flashed his physicality by killing plays with well-timed engagements in his own end. However, Wallenius was also one of the more turnover-prone blueliners our team watched at the U20 level. In addition to mishandling pucks regularly, a large share of his passing attempts in the defensive zone were picked off, either due to bad timing or execution. Wallenius’ skating also currently projects as at least slightly below-average NHL tool; quicker forwards were able to exploit him off the rush and he sometimes lacked the quickness to escape from the forecheck. As Elite Prospects Dir. of European scouting Lassi Alanen pointed out in a game report from February, saying “He seems to have a decent sense for small-area passing and advancing plays with control, but is currently let down mostly by the mechanical execution.” However, drafting Wallenius wouldn’t be a bet on what he is today but what he could become in a few years, projecting he has more developmental leeway than your average prospect given his rawness. While our team didn’t ultimately see enough to justify ranking him at this point, he’s a player whose progress we’ll be monitoring with intrigue."

Which of the six newest Sens prospects interest you the most? Whose development are you most interested in following next season? Let us know in the comments!