Just a quick update today regarding the Senators’ rookie camp, and the list of prospects expected to take part. It will be a very D-heavy group, which shouldn’t really come as a surprise given their recent draft trends. But it will definitely be interesting to see how some of these players compare in terms of development, upside, etc.
The full list of participants can be found here:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/senators-announce-roster-for-2024-prospects-challenge/
What follows here is just a summary of drafted/signed players, and a few thoughts about what might be expected from them at this year’s rookie camp.
Forwards
Tyler Boucher (USA) (1st-2021, OTT)
Jake Chiasson (CAN) (4th-2021, EDM)
Philipe Daoust (CAN) (6th-2020, OTT)
Luke Ellinas (CAN) (4th-2024, OTT)
Stephen Halliday (CAN) (4th-2022, OTT)
Oskar Pettersson (SWE) (3rd-2022, OTT)
Halliday should be the standout among this group, but his play-making ability may give a player like Boucher a chance to show he’s ready for a bigger role. Pettersson and Daoust have played very limited minutes in the AHL, and will have a good chance here to show what they can do with more ice time. It will also be a first glimpse at both Ellinas as a 2024 drafted prospect and Chiasson, who was part of the Jarventie-Bourgault trade. Both project as more two-way forwards, so they will likely play more of a 3rd line role. Overall, there's limited high-end skill in this group, but if they overload a top-line around Halliday they may have one of the most productive scoring lines in the tournament.
Defence
Matthew Andonovski (CAN) (5th-2023, OTT)
Jorian Donovan (CAN) (5th-2022, OTT)
Gabriel Eliasson (SWE) (2nd-2024, OTT)
Tomas Hamara (CZE) (3rd-2022, OTT)
Filip Nordberg (SWE) (2nd-2022, OTT)
Djibril Toure (CAN) (Free Agent)
Carter Yakemchuk (CAN) (1st-2024, OTT)
Rarely do you have a blue line at a rookie camp that’s almost completely filled with NHL-drafted prospects, but that’s what the Senators have this year. Yakemchuk leads the way in terms of prominence and should lead the way offensively, but Donovan/Hamara can both move the puck well and have WJC experience. Beyond that, Andonovski led the OHL with a +58 rating last year and was just named captain of the Kitchener Rangers, Nordberg is a former 2nd round pick and has been playing in the USHL, and they have the 6ft7 twin towers in Toure and Eliasson. For many it will be the first time to watch Eliasson play, who at this year's draft was frequently noted for his "violent physicality". So there could be some rough games ahead.
Goaltender
Leevi Merilainen (FIN) (3rd-2020, OTT)
Few rookies will come into camp already having played games in the CHL, SM-Liiga, ECHL, AHL, and NHL, but such is the case with Merilainen. Given the quality of his ability and the D-heavy nature of the roster, it should make them a pretty difficult team to score goals against. However, there are other less-proven G in camp who may get equal billing, as they’ll no doubt want Merilainen to have a fair chance in NHL training camp to get valuable pre-season game experience. But overall, Merilainen should be the best goaltender on the ice for any of the rookie games he plays in.
The rookie camp games are always fun to watch, and hopefully this year will be no exception. Please feel free to comment or share your thoughts about some of this year's prominent rookie camp participants, and as always thanks for reading!
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