Sign in Subscribe
Front Page

Ottawa Senators Prospect Update - December 11th 2018

We’re a bit generous this week, as we highlight the play of five prospects

He’s in the picture, which is often a good sight if you want to be named a “Biggest Standout.” Colin White leads a group of five players who had big weeks and garnered a well-deserved feature. After a couple of rough weeks, the three brightest goalies in the organization attempted to one-up the recent performances of Craig Anderson and Mike McKenna.

Stats Sheet

(Click to enlarge)

Biggest Standouts

Angus Crookshank

Crookshank had the biggest night of his career on Saturday night, as he scored two goals and added a primary assist as the UNH Wildcats blanked Dartmouth by a score of 4-0.

Up there with Jacob Bernard-Docker as the Sens most impressive NCAA rookie, Crookshank’s play has been trending up as late, and he’s been rewarding his coach for giving him consistent top-six minutes.

Aaron Luchuk

Aaron Luchuk’s recall may have been because of the injury to Filip Chlapik (more on that later), but I’d like to think that he earned it, too. After starting the year slowly after recovering from a concussion, Luchuk had three goals, five points, and 11 shots on goal in four games last week.

What’s most impressive to me is that the style of play that worked for him in junior is what I’m seeing in the highlights below. Won battles in the corner, great lower body strength, and  good vision. I’m hopeful that Troy Mann can slot Luchuk accordingly into a top-nine position so he gets a real shot to stay with Belleville, even when everyone’s healthy.

Colin White

I would not have believed you if you told me before the season that Colin White was going to be second in rookie scoring in December. That’s no slight on White — who’s always had a high skill set and was named Belleville’s rookie of the year last season — but perhaps indicative of me (and probably many of us) putting too much stock in his 21 NHL games last season.

White looks fantastic. Of course, he’s playing with Mark Stone — he who can get mediocre players signed to long-term deals — but when he’s on the ice, it really looks like they’re complementing each other well. Moreover, White has been playing centre when he started the year (and played most of last season) as a winger, takes a middle-ice role on the top powerplay unit while leading the team with 5 powerplay goals, and is occasionally matched against the other team’s best lines.

Yes, he had a couple of rough outings against the Canadiens, but he bounced back in a big way over the weekend. Without Matt Duchene for next little while, White will have every opportunity to be the team’s premier centre. Responsibility like that will only help when he’s slotted back down the lineup later on.

Joey Daccord

I couldn’t find any highlights of his 45 save shutout performance, but Joey Daccord earns a feature here regardless. It’s his fourth (!) shutout of the season, which leads all NCAA netminders, and his save percentage ranks 10th among goalies with more than 10 games played.

Marcus Hogberg

Two starts, two great performances for Marcus Hogberg — who continues to perform well after returning from injury a couple weeks ago. The team in front of him gave him two different workloads — allowing only 20 shots against to start their 3-in-3, but giving up 36 to end the weekend.

Hogberg was up to the task in both starts, helping his team earn three of a possible four points in his two starts. His glove used to be an issue in the past, but looks quick here. Moreover, he looks more aggressive in general, happily challenging shooters when the time calls for it.

Silver Linings

  • Brady’s best buddy, Josh Norris, has cooled off from his early scoring streak. Asked earlier this week when he think he’ll turn pro, to him that’s still “a little too far ahead”. He’ll almost certainly be representing USA at the World Juniors, with 17 points in 15 games so far for the University of Michigan.
  • While we’re talking about goalies, Filip Gustavsson’s start against Providence on Saturday night wasn’t shabby either. He won his first game in five starts, and has seen his save percentage slowly creep back up to .891.
  • Your weekly Josh Norris update? 1 goal, 1 assist, an overtime winner, named to Team USA’s preliminary roster, and a dashing ugly holiday sweater.
  • Logan Brown and Rudolfs Balcers both had solid weeks, bolstered by four-point nights against Laval.
  • On the injury front: Andrew Sturtz, Christian Wolanin, and Jordan Murray are still out in Belleville, and Filip Chlapik was seen in a walking boot after blocking a shot late in the team’s 1-0 loss to the Marlies on Sunday. Jonny Tychonick also missed both of UND’s weekend games with an undisclosed injury.
  • Brady Tkachuk has gone pointless over four games — an inevitability, even if it didn’t look possible with the way he was scoring early on. I thought he was quieter than expected against the Canadiens, but even when he’s not producing, he continues to be a physical presence. /
  • Want to start your day off well? Listen to the commentator’s excitement on Jacob Bernard-Docker’s late game-tying marker on Saturday night: /

Read next


Not everyone can afford to pay for sports coverage right now, and that is why we will keep as much of the site's content free for as long as we can.


But if you are able to, please consider subscribing to help keep our articles free (and get a few extra perks).

Erik Condra
  • Ability to comment and participate in our community
  • Twice monthly newsletter available only to subscribers
  • Ad-free reading
  • Our undying love and appreciation
CA$6.5/month CA$65/year
Brady Tkachuk
  • Everything from the Erik Condra tier
  • 10% discount on all merch
  • Access to any future paywalled content
  • A personal thank-you from the Silver Seven staff
CA$13/month CA$130/year
Daniel Alfredsson
  • Everything from the Brady Tkachuk tier
  • Inner peace knowing you are supporting quality, independent coverage of your favourite sports team
CA$26/month CA$260/year