Ottawa Senators Prospect Update: January 22nd - 29th
The CHL-ers continue to dominate.
It was a big week for Sens prospects, especially in the CHL, as a handful of players started showing chemistry with their new teams post-trade deadline.
The Belleville Senators didn’t do quite as well, however, losing three straight to Manitoba, Syracuse and Rochester. They’re currently 13 points out of the division’s fourth seed, as the gap between the bottom and top of the North division continues to grow. Sports Club Stats currently gives them a 0.05% chance of making the playoffs.
Stats Sheet
(Click to enlarge)
Biggest Standouts
Alex Formenton
Formenton took centre stage for the London Knights this week, being named the first star in two of their three contests. Last Tuesday, he scored a goal and added four shots against the Kitchener Rangers, and three days later he burst out for three goals (two + an empty netter) and an assist in the Knights’ 7-4 win.
The 18-year-old is only one goal away from tying his total from last season, and five points away as well. He’s now also London’s fifth player who’s scoring above a point-per-game pace.
Alex Formenton's Friday Night:
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) January 27, 2018
🎩 Hat Trick
🍎 Assist
⭐️ 1st Star pic.twitter.com/loFYzUsg2o
Parker Kelly
Signed as an undrafted free agent over the summer, Kelly showed this week that he still has good potential. He’s still only 18 years old, and despite playing for a weak team in Prince Albert, he’s already managed to score 21 goals, tying his career high.
In two games this week, Kelly increased his point total by four (two goals and two assists) in back-to-back wins against Prince George and Edmonton. Known as a pesky player, he’ll still be able to play in the WHL next season where he can further hone his craft.
Logan Brown
Rounding out the trio of CHL studs, Brown couldn’t be having a better start with the Kitchener Rangers. Since being dealt, he’s acquainted himself nicely, with back-to-back three point games. Both performances earned him the third star, as he put three assists on the board in his opening match, and two goals plus an assist the next day.
Unlike last season, Brown has been finding more ways to score at even strength. In 2016-17 he received most of his points on the power play, although only one of six points this week came with the man advantage. 33% of his points are on the power play this season, compared to 58% last year. It’s not like his power play production is going down either — his even strength play has just really improved.
Logan Brown with back-to-back 3 point games. Good start in Kitchener 🚨🍎 pic.twitter.com/27A2w7v4xR
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) January 28, 2018
Silver Linings
- The AHL also had their All-Star festivities this weekend, with Gabriel Gagné getting the nod from Belleville. His team (the North division) won the tournament yesterday, where he even scored a goal in one of the preliminary games.
- A handful of B-Sens players are on scoring droughts. Jack Rodewald’s gone 14 games without a goal and eight without a point. Francis Perron is one more at 15 games without a goal, while being played mostly on the 4th line. Andreas Englund has yet to find the back of the net in 45 games this season, and the same goes for Macoy Erkamps in 30 games. Frustrating times in Belleville.
- A few players are dealing with injuries as well, including Christian Jaros, Max Lajoie and Patrick Sieloff. With Erik Burgdoerfer also called up to Ottawa to fill in for injuries there, the defence has been paper thin.
- Colin White rejoined the team for two games (as did DiDomenico and Burgdoerfer), although they’re all back in the NHL with the All-Star break finished.
- Todd Burgess received 12 minutes in penalties on Saturday: two for hooking plus a ten minute misconduct. RPI hasn’t been having a good year at all, ranking second last in a division with twelve teams.
- Drake Batherson continues his incredible breakout season with another three points (all assists) in two games.
- Aaron Luchuk also scored another two points in two games for Barrie this week. The Sens may only have three prospects in the OHL, but every single one of them is playing fantastic.
- Finally, today is extremely special, as both Thomas Chabot and Colin White are celebrating their 21st birthday!/
