Ottawa Senators Prospect Update - April 16th
I can excuse any- and everyone who would rather talk about the NHL playoffs right about now
How can any one of us think about anything other than the battle of Ontario with the Ottawa Senators scheduled for playoff hockey in less than a week's time? I have no idea. Will I still fulfill my sworn obligation to update you on Ottawa's farm system? Yes. The Sens lost an exhibition game against Chicago in overtime last night and you can also use this comment section to discuss that if you like. Bring on Toronto already though. LET'S GO.
For Matthew Andonovski, Luke Ellinas, and the Kitchener Rangers, time has all but run out as they have fallen behind 3-0 in their second-round series against Windsor. Kitchener won their first series in five games but in round two the offence has disappeared with an abysmal powerplay largely to blame. So far Andonovski has an assist and 11 shots through eight games while Ellinas has contributed to a good chunk of the Rangers' offence with a goal, five assists, and 15 shots. Depending how the summer goes I could see Andonovski in Belleville next season while I imagine Ellinas stays in the OHL.
The Barrie Colts survived their first-round series against Niagara for a date with the Kingston Frontenacs and have since established a 2-0 series lead. Barrie, unlike Kitchener, has rode a red-hot powerplay and some very high event hockey thus far. So far Gabriel Eliasson has zero points and five shots through seven games but more intriguingly just four PIM so colour me pleasantly surprised. I don't know just how far the Colts will get playing such loose defence but controversial players like Eliasson have made me look foolish before, folks. Update: Barrie lost game three 5-3 (winning on the road is tough in the playoffs!)
The Brantford Bulldogs featuring Tomas Hamara have gotten off to a 2-0 start I'm their second-round series against Oshawa after closing out round-one in five games. Hamara has had a respectable four assists through seven games with a very healthy 19 shots on goal along the way. I don't know how Brantford would stack up against a team like London or Windsor but so far the Bulldogs have played some very balanced and effective hockey and for Hamara's sake, you absolutely love to see it. Expect the Czech blueliner to bring some added playoff experience to Belleville next season. Update: Brantford took a rough 7-2 loss in Oshawa so now I feel extremely silly.
Unsurprisingly the London Knights look unstoppable with six wins in six games, and while Eerie has kept this round-two matchup feisty and physical, I can see London going into the conference finals relatively unscathed. Blake Montgomery has a goal, two assists, and 11 shots so far for the Knights. I could see the Sens offering Montgomery his ELC this summer after a strong first year in the organization but I reckon the young winger gets another season in junior to round out his game a bit more. Update: London got the shutout 4-0 in Eerie as that juggernaut rolls on.
Catch me far from the comments section if Lethbridge (currently leading 2-0) sweeps Calgary in round two and Carter Yakemchuk doesn't really factor into the result. Calgary swept their first-round matchup against Saskatoon and so far Yakemchuk has a goal, two assists, and 20 shots through six games. I've seen comments to the effect that Yakemchuk should come to Ottawa this spring and while I have my reservations about the Sens' third pairing just like a lot of other folks, I would sooner call up Donovan Sebrango or Max Guenette (who have experienced NHL hockey albeit in very small samples). Yakemchuk most certainly could spend another year in the WHL and I won't complain. Update: Calgary won game three 5-3 and Yakemchuk got an assist on Calgary's third goal.
In non-CHL news, Vladimir Nikitin had a pretty rough postseason after resurrecting his year with a fine regular season performance in the BCHL. Nanaimo lost their first-round series in five games and Nikitin lost the starter's job along the way conceding 13 goals on 108 shots (88%). To Nikitin's credit, those first two games went to overtime but there are no loser points in the playoffs. Not a great time for regression and we'll see what Nikitin has in store for us next year with this experience under his belt.
In the USHL, Javon Moore and Filip Nordberg have a few days off as Sioux Falls earned a first-round bye by virtue of finishing second in their conference. Moore wrapped up the regular season with a goal, an assist, and 11 shots in his last four games. The Nordberg Renaissance continues as the blueliner had a goal, five assists, and seven shots in his last three regular season contests. I don't know where it came from but I hope this trend continues into the postseason (he also took just one minor penalty).
Go Sens Go.
