Ottawa Senators Prospect Update - December 11th

As our favourite NHL team continues to toy without emotions and aspirations, their affiliated prospects toil on in their respective junior and collegiate leagues if only in hopes of getting traded to a different parent organization (I joke, kind of). A few made big strides since our last check-in two weeks ago. Many others did just enough to keep their "D" average alive until the holidays–enjoy!

• Matthew Andonovski had another unremarkable week for Kitchener in terms of individual production but the Rangers continue to win games (currently on a six-game streak) and they allow very little in the way of goals against. It doesn't hurt to have one of the best goalies in the league. As Ottawa Senators fans, though, we can tell you that the defence in front of the goalie matters too.
• After starting the season with a torrid three points in three games (torrid for a freshman, okay), Owen Beckner has cooled down to the tune of two points in his last 11 games. The shooting, she regresses, folks.
• By his own very modest standards, Tyson Dyck didn't have a terrible two weeks, with a goal on six shots over four games. And his zero penalty minutes streak lives on!
• Gabriel Eliasson did his own unique brand of thing with an average of no points, one penalty, and one shot per game over the past two weeks. Can't teach tall. It bears mentioning that Barrie has given up the fewest goals among OHL teams this season and their starter has a perfectly average 90 save percentage, so I could argue the Colts do play good defence.
• Luke Ellinas stood out in a good way these past two weeks with five points in five games while averaging over three shots per night (and getting into a scrap along the way). Ellinas scored Kitchener's second goal of the game, 2:00 here and the game winner (on the powerplay) at 6:00 in a barn burner at home against Owen Sound.
• Tomas Hamara had another decent couple of weeks as an OHL overager with five points in five games, averaging over three shots per game over that same span. Hamara took second star honours in a game against Oshawa in which the defender got four points–all on special teams. Check out his powerplay goal at about 2:05 here. This game also had some 28 penalties combined between both teams. Damn.
• Oliver Johansson's struggles in his home country haven't abated as he had two more weeks to forget. More importantly, however, can we talk about ex-Senators playing in the SHL? Jonathan Dahlen, Jack Kopacka, Markus Nurmi, Viktor Lodin, and Jakob Silfverberg? All among the top-15 goal-scorers. Olle Alsing, Max Verroneau, and Andre Petersson all somehow find themselves in the top-60 point-getters in the SHL. Lassi Thomson currently leads the league in shots. And I seem to recall Marcus Hogberg pacing the SHL last season too. Pierre was really just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• It brings me immense joy to inform you that Blake Montgomery has in fact put it together in the OHL with five goals and five assists in his last five games (averaging over three shots per game and taking no penalties). For his efforts, Montgomery took home the league's player of the week honours last week. I especially enjoyed his penalty shot conversion against the 67s in the associated highlight pack.
• Despite some lousy shooting luck (still just 9% on the season) Javon Moore's stock has looked better of late with two goals and an assist since we last checked in (and he still averages over two shots per game). Sioux Falls currently find themselves on a five-game winning streak.
• Things haven't gotten any easier for Vladimir Nikitin at the professional level, giving up eight goals in his lone start since we last checked in. Maybe he'll get another chance to put the Kazakhstan national team on his back in international play this season and give us all something to cheer for?
• Filip Nordberg played in one game and took a penalty–definitely not Pierre's best second-round selection!
• Kevin Reidler made one relief appearance for Omaha in a 5-2 loss against St. Cloud, giving up one goal on 15 shots in the third period of said game. For whatever it's worth, Reidler now has a pretty respectable save percentage despite having played less than 80 minutes of hockey this season.
• Offence continues to elude Hoyt Stanley despite shooting at a decent clip for a sophomore defender. Cornell continues to do well in the national rankings at least so we still have a chance of watching Stanley in tournament play this season.
• In two games Nick VanTassell had two shots. He exists. Cam O'Neill, his teammate, did not play and may or may not still exist.
• The sophomore slump continues for Theo Wallberg who failed to register a point in his last four games while also only notching two shots over that same span.
• Eerik Wallenius has cooled off some after a strong start to his junior season. He has still generated a decent rate (second in his league among U19 defenders).
• And for those of us in desperate need of something to hold on to, Carter Yakemchuk still ranks top-five in the WHL in goals- and points-per-game among defenders. He has averaged almost four shots per game and over a point per game. He had three points and six shots in his most recent game (an overtime win against Saskatoon) and didn't even crack the three stars of the game–ha! Peep Yak's goal at about the 1:20 mark here. He nearly had two and had to settle for an assist at about 2:20. Imagine if Calgary had lost to a team wearing Spongebob jerseys? Yikes.

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