Belleville Senators Prospect Update - November 7th

Like their older Ottawa brethren, the Belleville Senators have had a back-and-forth start in terms of wins. Unlike the A-Squad, however, the B-Sens have been rewarded with points in the game they've lost, accumulating a 4-1-3 record through eight games, having gone 2-0-2 in their last four games:

• Friday, Oct. 25th: @ Toronto Marlies - 4-3 Loss (SO)
• Saturday, Oct. 26th: VS. Toronto Marlies - 2-1 Win (SO)
• Wednesday, Oct. 30th: VS. Providence Bruins - 3-2 Loss (SO)
• Saturday, Nov. 2nd: @ Syracuse Crunch - 6-2 Win

Most of these games have been close, which, in a sport that rewards you for being a loser *cough* Islanders *cough* is incredibly valuable in the standings. Here's hoping the big club follows suit and cuts back on regulation losses going forward. You can lose, just lose after 60 minutes please.

Notable Performances:

Cole Reinhardt

Early on, the 24-year-old is in the midst of a career season, adding to his team-leading total with a 4-point night against Syracuse. A 6th-round selection and the last of 10 picks made by the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhardt has 4 goals and 6 assists in just 5 games with Belleville, and will most definitely be getting another look in the NHL should another injury occur on the wings.

Donovan Sebrango

Like Reinhardt, Sebrango's another prospect from the 2020 Draft who was considered an afterthought compared to some others last year, but he stuck around in the preseason and is tied for 4th in team scoring with 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 games, already just two points back of his career-high. At 23 years of age, there's still room to develop, especially on the offensive side of things – this goal against the Crunch was insane:

If we're looking at options to fill in for an injured left-shot defenseman, I'd look to Sebrango or veteran Jeremy Davies (6 points in 8 games) as the two main candidates.

Angus Crookshank

That 6-2 victory is the gift that keeps on giving, it seems. Crookshank had a rough camp and preseason and struggled to produce for Belleville out of the gate, but a 3-point night has him back on track with 4 goals and 1 assist in 8 games. I had high hopes he'd be a second successful pick from the 2018 NHL Draft, but it's going to be tough to push Reinhardt after their respective starts. At least 26th overall pick Jacob Bernard-Docker is looking like an NHL defenseman so far.

Other Updates:

• With Mads Søgaard out for the next month or so, Leevi Meriläinen is the undisputed starter in Belleville, and if his recent play is any indicator, this may last even beyond Søgaard's absence, with a .926 in the last four games.
• I was unsure if Tomas Hamara would be able to get into any AHL games this season because of the club's defensive depth, and it seems that's going to be the case. The good news is that he's still eligible to play in the OHL as an overager. Returning to the Brantford Bulldogs, the 2022 3rd-round selection is a point-per-game player in 5 contests thus far, on a 6-6-2 Bulldogs team.
• Even though Ottawa currently has no ECHL affiliate, the club can still loan players to those of other NHL organizations. Undrafted free agent Djibril Toure has played 7 games with the Orlando Solar Bears (Tampa's affiliate) and has a goal and two assists.
• Another recent draft pick is changing course. 4th-rounder Blake Montgomery, previously committed to Wisconsin, is leaving the USHL to join the OHL's London Knights. Through 10 games with the Lincoln Stars, Montgomery has tallied 3 goals and 7 assists, and will likely play one OHL season before either joining Belleville or beginning his collegiate career.

Stats: