Senators Draft D Ben Roger with 49th Pick in 2021 Draft
The hulking London Knights defender is Ottawa-bound.
With the 49th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators selected defenceman Ben Roger, of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights.
The pick was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, along with the 136th overall selection, in exchange for Ottawa’s 42nd overall choice.
A native of Brighton, Ontario, Roger is a hulking right-handed defender, clocking in at 6’4 and 200lbs. The 18 year-old put on around 30lbs during the extended layoff provided by the cancelled 2021 OHL season, and is expected to have a top four role with the Knights when the puck drops this fall.
Roger made his OHL debut during the 2018-2019 season, and suited up for 35 games in 2019-2020. He scored two goals and added four assists.
It’s another pick that perhaps flies in the face of the consensus. Roger was ranked 89th by Bob McKenzie, and “undrafted” in consolidated rankings, but the latter is likely due to being a younger player who didn’t get to showcase his talents in 2021.
Roger participated in the 2021 FloHockey PBHH Invitational Showcase, and some recent highlights can be found below:
The Senators are next on the clock with the 74th overall selection, in round three.