Ottawa Senators Prospect Update: May 11th

For those somehow still unaware, tomorrow night we close the curtain on the 2021 NHL season in Ottawa and resume several months of slumber before we can once again enjoy our large chaotic sons stirring it up against the Leafs and Habs. So while it really goes without saying, savour every second of the game tomorrow and send off the lovable lads with the online praise they deserve for all the schadenfreude they provided over the past few months. With most other leagues deep into the playoffs, let’s take a look at the prospect team of the week for one of the last times this year:

Forwards

Tim Stützle

Even if he doesn’t win the Calder for his valiant efforts in 2021, Stützle has more than won over the fanbase and has absolutely lived up to our expectations in his rookie campaign. In one of the last games of this abbreviated season Stützle treated fans to one more taste of the good things to come in Ottawa with his first NHL hat trick:

Hat-trick completed!!! ✅#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/UNr8gPstbf

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 9, 2021

Logan Brown

Yes, I know, we’ve waited a long time for Brown to get it going this season and I know a substantial faction of the fanbase still needs winning over in terms of whether or not Ottawa can salvage Brown as a project and make him into the player that management hoped he could be back on draft night all those years ago. For those of us who still believe in the big centre, we got some reassurance during Friday’s game against Laval:

🚨Logan Brown's 1st of the season!

Brown has points in 4 straight games, and 7 points in his last 8GP – with a period left to play on Friday night#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/5s5HCNL3iy

— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) May 8, 2021

Shane Pinto

The Bean himself has very quietly broken out since joining the Senators and keeps looking more and more comfortable in the NHL with every game. Pinto took some major steps forward with his first NHL goal and two assists to boot in his last three games with Ottawa, demonstrating he can get it done at the professional level. We absolutely love a young forward who enjoys scoring against Montreal.

Pinto's first!!!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/39FqCeEMX6

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 5, 2021

Defence

Erik Brännström

Not one to let Tim-Jim have all the fun, Ottawa’s most dynamic young defender had a three-point game of his own this past week, collecting three apples against Montreal. Like Logan Brown, Erik has tested the patience of some fans who expected more immediate gratification after the Senators acquired the sneaky blueliner. Rest assured, at just 21 years of age, and only just beginning his tenure as a permanent defender in the NHL, Bonestorm will continue to convert even the most skeptical of fans with his production.

Erik Brännström (@brannstromerik) utökade sin poängtotal med två efter dubbla assist inatt! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/1S8VSFVNQl

— NHL Sverige (@NHLsv) May 6, 2021

Maxence Guénette

Over in the QMJHL, Guénette and his mates from Val d’Or currently have a 2-0 series lead over Rimouski in their quarter-final postseason series. The steady blueliner continues his point-per-game playoff pace while averaging five shots a night. Here are the highlight’s from last Friday’s game in which Guénette had an assist and four shots:

Goaltender

Filip Gustavsson

Goose may not have had his usual sterling save percentage this week due in no small part to a relief appearance on Sunday in a game when Ottawa simply couldn’t get into gear at all, playing the second half of a back-to-back. In his Saturday night start against Winnipeg, however, Gustavsson looked every bit like the standout netminder of Ottawa’s system who has endeared himself tremendously to the fanbase during his NHL stint this season. Gus has acted as a beacon of hope during a season when goaltending often looked like the Senators’ greatest weakness.

Filip Gustavsson looking dialled in early. #Sens pic.twitter.com/JZm6IfS8Ez

— Brandon Maki (@BrandonMaki_) May 8, 2021

Silver Linings

• Although with modest results, Vitaly Abramov made his season debut in the NHL while Olle  Alsing got his first minutes at the highest level bolstering a decimated blueline for the Senators. Jacob Bernard-Docker also made his way in to the mix after fans implored the coaching staff for weeks.
• No fault of his own, Josh Norris just missed out on the team of the week and he deserves a lot of recognition as arguably the most consistent Senator this season with production that definitely warrants some Calder consideration even if he won’t take home any hardware. Norris has that rare skillset that appeals to both the nerdy and traditional members of the fanbase equally and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table next season.
• If you need any extra incentive to follow the Belleville Senators down the stretch, head coach Mann has confirmed that Ridly Greig and Roby Järventie will play out the balance of the season on the farm.
• Viktor Lodin and Timrå IK can claim the Allsvenskan title on Wednesday with a victory as they currently lead Björklöven 3-1 on the finals.
• And one final shoutout, as Mads Søgaard remains undefeated in the AHL now with a record of 3-0-0 in Belleville. Just as Filip Gustavsson has seemingly stabilized the goaltending situation in Ottawa, Søgaard has provided some much needed consistency for the BSens who have finally started stringing together some wins. Better late than never as the saying goes. /

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