Ottawa Senators Prospect Update - February 9th

With Shane Pinto and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on a lengthy break, spots on this week’s prospect team were up for grabs. We’ve got representation from the NHL, Europe, and the NCAA, let’s find out who separated themselves from the pack this week!

Forwards

Angus Crookshank

Crookshank is averaging over four shots per game during his junior season with New Hampshire, but he has struggled to bury his chances, only tallying four goals on 57 shots prior to this week. What we saw from him on Saturday was what you’d call “regression to the mean”. He scored a whopping four goals, including the game-winner in overtime against UMass, and added an assist to boot.

UNH WINS!! Angus Crookshank scores the game-winning goal in overtime with his fourth goal of the game giving the ‘Cats a 7-6 win over No. 20 UMass Lowell at the Whitt!! #BeTheRoar @hockey_east pic.twitter.com/VEbIs1M3rt

— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) February 7, 2021

Now up to 11 points in 14 games, Crookshank is paying dividends on the fifth-round pick Ottawa used to select him in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and if he decides to turn pro after the season, he may be able to contribute in a middle-six role with Belleville in the AHL.

Tim Stützle

With a three-point performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, plus a goal against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, the leading scorer of the 2020 Draft showed us that he can make high-end plays at the NHL level, including this wicked stretch pass to Chris Tierney, which set up the opening goal in the aforementioned game against the Habs:

Thomas Chabot ties it up! Tim Stützle starts the play with a fantastic pass and picks up his first career assist. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/iSl49Ut6mp

— Everyday.Sens (@EverydaySens) February 5, 2021

It’s going to take a while for the 19-year-old to become an effective NHLer at both ends of the ice (and until that happens his on-ice metrics will be abysmal), but the progress he’s made so far should have Sens fans feeling excited about the career ahead.

Viktor Lodin

Lodin had another impressive week with Timra of the Allsvenskan, putting up one goal on seven shots, along with three assists in three games. In the following clip, you’ll see him catch a defender flat-footed and finish the play on the breakaway, followed by his assist from the same game, in which he forces a turnover, allowing his linemates to easily capitalize:

Viktor Lodin (@Senators) potted a goal and added an assist yesterday in HockeyAllsvenskan.#GoSensGohttps://t.co/3TtJIIdYRB pic.twitter.com/LsAKc8jao9

— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) February 4, 2021

Defensemen

Erik Brannstrom

Brannstrom hasn’t looked out of place in the three games he’s played with the Senators thus far. He’s posted a 48.10 5v5 Corsi For%, and he had an assist on Connor Brown’s game-winning goal in that 3-1 victory on Thursday. Saturday’s game was Brannstrom’s strongest of the three, and as he’s a mobile two-way defender who can quickly move the puck out of the zone, he’s helped the Senators’ blue line look more competent since his recall. The key going forward is whether or not they’ll be able to keep that up without sacrificing offense.

Jonny Tychonick

The Senators’ 2018 2nd-round pick hasn’t had a fantastic junior season with Omaha, but he did pick up an assist in a 5-4 overtime win against Denver on Saturday. I’d expect Tychonick to spend a fourth year in college after this one, and from there, his draft pedigree may be enough to earn an entry-level deal with Ottawa.

Goaltending

Mads Søgaard

Once again, it’s between two goalies, from two different leagues in which stats are difficult to track. Mads Søgaard and Leevi Meriläinen both played one game, and while Søgaard’s save percentage held strong at .934, Meriläinen’s fell from .928 to .926. Advantage: Søgaard. The Metal Liagen may not be as prominent as other European leagues, it’s still a professional league, in which the 20-year old Dane has excelled.

Silver Linings

• 2018 7th-round pick and Hobey Baker nominee Jakov Novak had one assist, two shots, and 15 penalty minutes in two games with Bentley University. He’s now up to 10 points in 9 games in his junior year, and like Crookshank, I’d expect him to turn pro after the season ends.
• 2020 5th-rounder Eric Engstrand picked up an assist in two games with the Malmo Redhawks this week; he’s only got three points in 30 SHL games.
• Roby Jarventie has cooled off since his hot start to his first season in the Liiga. With one assist in three games this week, his 16 points in 27 games overall are still solid./

Stats

NHL

CHL

NCAA

Europe

Goalies