Ottawa Senators select Chris Driedger 76th overall

For the past few weeks, the Senators had been telling anyone who would listen they would be selecting a goalie in this draft, and at the first chance they got on the second day, they were true to their word, selecting goaltender Chris Driedger of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.

Like every goalie selected ever, Driedger is a project. Luckily for the Senators, he is a project with some good credentials. Standing 6'2" (a similar height as Robin Lehner) and weighing 186lbs, he was named to the CHL/NHL top prospects game and was the player tabbed to start in place of first-round choice Malcom Subban when Subban was injured and unable to play.

For a scouting report on Driedger, here's Justin Goldman of The Goalie Guild:

Driedger displays a very calm demeanor in the net, and he moves with good balance due to a low center of gravity. He has very little excess movement, and is the most minimalistic and economical of the four. His game is very simple; he doesn’t waste any excess energy, he stays in good position, and he shows elements of durability by quietly letting the puck, and the play, come to him.

Because of this demeanor, he should rank higher than most draft-eligible goalies on your fantasy league scale. I know Driedger has been through a total whirlwind since he was invited to perform in the two-day Research and Development back in August, but the experience he has gained will pay off in the future. He wasn’t even supposed to play in this game, but earned the invitation when Malcolm Subban was ruled out due to injury.

Furthermore, he’s getting hot at just the right time; he went a perfect 6-0 in January for the Calgary Hitmen, posting a miniscule 1.29 goals-against average and .954 save percentage along the way. He won’t carry the same type of hype as an Andrei Vasilevski or a Subban, but due to his quiet and poised nature in the net, he’s certainly worth watching.

Are you happy with the selection of Chris Driedger?