Ottawa Senators Prospect Update - December 24th

Even if it ended on a bit of a down note, the Ottawa Senators on the first leg of their road-trip into perdition fared about as well as any of us could have hoped. They didn't always play well, but they got some wins so you won't catch me complaining. Plus the Sens have a few days off to recover before they play some pretty decent midwestern teams. Around the prospect pool, some players have gotten the memo that playtime has in fact come to an end. Others still haven't gotten up to speed. Pizza for the former. Poison for the latter.

• Matthew Andonovski picked a good time to get back on the scoresheet with a game-winning goal against Kingston the Friday before last (Luke Ellinas got an assist on the goal). Watching the highlights reminded me of another team that has had its share of overtime magic in recent weeks.
• Owen Beckner had a multi-point effort for Colorado College on the Friday before last in a win over Denver. Denver established a three-goal lead early in the contest and Colorado managed to storm all the way back with Beckner's powerplay goal tying things up in the third. The clutch-ness seems to have spread throughout the Senators organization of late.
• Tyson Dyck went point-less in two more games since our last update but he did get a few shots and he has also managed to keep his zero penalty streak alive through 28 games so far this season.
• To his credit, Gabriel Eliasson had more than twice as many shots (nine) as he did penalty minutes (four) for what felt like the first time this season, since our last update. In the process he got his second assist (fourth point) of the season.
• Luke Ellinas' big breakout point-wise continues to elude him despite plenty of shots on net. He had a decent three points in four games but again converted at less than ten percent in terms of shooting (his lone goal this week came against the empty net). File Ellinas under players I think will benefit from some time off at the holidays.
• Something tells me that the Bulldogs have enjoyed having over-ager Tomas Hamara back in Brantford. The Czech defender had seven more assists and 21 shots over his past five games. I hope this gives Hamara the confidence he needs to find his way at the professional level eventually.
• In Sweden, Oliver Johansson still exists, having played one game since our last update with no other numbers to report.
• Much like the Bulldogs with Hamara, I imagine the London Knights feel pretty content with the addition of Blake Montgomery who had another seven points and 16 shots in his last five games. Montgomery must also feel pretty good about his decision to leave the USHL. In his most recent contest, Montgomery earned first-star honours with a goal and a pair of assists on five shots. Peep said goal at about the 1:00 mark in said recap.
• Javon Moore didn't have a great two weeks, accumulating zero points over two games with four penalty minutes (rather out of character) and just four shots. Maybe the holidays will give him a chance to reset.
• Valdimir Nikitin hasn't played any games since the last update but he has made it to Ottawa as Kazakhstan's national team prepares for the world juniors later this week. If you cheer for any other team at the WJCs then you obviously haven't learned the meaning of Sens fandom yet.
• Someone must have spoken to Filip Nordberg about shooting the puck because he nearly doubled his shot total over the past two games and he doubled his goal total (two) in the process. I guess Gretzky was right.
• UMass (possibly featuring Cam O'Neill and Nick VanTassell) will play an exhibition game against Simon Fraser on the 28th before returning to their regular schedule on January 3rd against Hoyt Stanley and Cornell.
• Well would you look at that, Omaha finally gave Kevin Reidler a start and he only stopped 29 of 30 shots en route to his first victory of the season. Considering he has a saver percentage over 94%, maybe he can get a few more starts in 2025–just a thought.
• Theo Wallberg and Ohio State will return to action January 3rd. Quite frankly, I expected this whole report to sound something like that.
• Over in Finland, Eerik Wallenius joined HPK's parent club, and while he didn't rack up any points since we last checked in, it bodes well for the young defender that his coaches though of Wallenius as a call-up candidate.
• Carter Yakemchuk currently ranks second in the WHL in goals among defenders (the guy ahead of his has played three more games and has one more goal). Yak also ranks in the top ten in points and shots by WHL defenders, and everyone else on that list has played more games. The WJC castoff had two goals, an assist, and 16 shots in three games since we last checked in. Check out Yak's goal from his multi-point game against Swift Current at the 2:00 minute mark of this recap.

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