7. Colin White (Reader Rank: 8, Last Year: 4)

To say that the 2019-2020 season was a tough one for Colin White would be an understatement. After his first full season yielded 41 points in 71 games, the 23 year-old got off to a rocky start in his sophomore campaign, suffering an early-season injury that appeared to linger.

While it took White a bit to rediscover his game, and carve out a role, he was beginning to show signs of serious improvement by the time the COVID-19 pandemic ended Ottawa’s season. Of his 23 points through 61 games, 13 came in the new year, capped off by a goal and five assists in the five March games.

More than one of White’s markers showed some serious skill, like short-side shots and deft deflections, displaying the skill that made him a highly-touted prospect in the first place. Now that the Boston native has carved out a role for himself as a two-way centre in the middle of the lineup, it only stands to reason that we’ll see a bounce-back year from White, whenever that year actually takes place.

With this in mind, however, the Senators’ centre grouping is quietly becoming one of the deepest in the league, in terms of prospects. Tim Stuetzle, Josh Norris, and Logan Brown all hold promise of being impact players, and Shane Pinto is projecting to bring a similar type of two-way game once he finds his way to the pros. White’s ability to play on the right wing affords him more opportunities to make an impact. but he certainly can’t afford to get complacent in the years to come.

Once again, dear readers, we find ourselves on the same wavelength in terms of evaluating our beloved youngsters. White dropping three spots on our list makes sense, given the circumstances, but he’s still one of the organization’s most valuable players, and you can expect that notion to be furthered when the Sens finally take to the ice again.

There are several #Sens players doing their 14-day quarantine in Ottawa _ including Colin White, Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, Joey Daccord, Nikita Zaitsev, Austin Watson and Marcus Hogberg. There may be more and Hogberg is either close to or has completed his.

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) December 7, 2020

Being the second-longest serving Senator (I know, right?), White will be likely be asked to take on a leadership role in 2021.