Who Should Ottawa Take with the No. 12 Draft Pick?
It's official: the Ottawa Senators are picking 12th in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. But what top prospect will begin their NHL career in the nation's capital?
After failing to win any of the three Draft Lottery picks up for grabs on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators will take their position at No. 12 in Round 1 of the 2016 NHL Draft.
It's an intriguing place for the Senators to pick. Unlike the top five, midway through the first round, it's much less obvious what players are going to which teams.
A lot of things could happen. Highly ranked players could fall a few spots, the player Ottawa wants might be taken earlier than expected and who knows what prospect set to go later in the round has caught the Senators' eye.
It's impossible to know what player will be chosen at No. 12, but it's rather easy to round up a handful of candidates.
Tyson Jost
An 18-year-old from St. Albert, Alberta, Tyson Jost has done a lot of winning this past year.
He played a big part with Canada's gold-medal winning team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and was named tournament MVP en route to Canada West's gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge. Jost's Penticton Vees may have lost out in the second round of the BCHL playoffs, but that didn't stop him from taking home the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as league MVP.
Taking into consideration that the BCHL is Junior A hockey, Jost did have a phenomenal offensive year. Tallying 42 goals and 62 assists in only 48 games, he finished first in the league in points per game and was the only 1998-born player in the top 15 in scoring.
"A smart, strong player with excellent vision and a great shot, Jost was called 'the real deal' by one NHL scout I spoke to and he’ll definitely be a first-rounder this summer when the draft hits Buffalo." - Ryan Kennedy. The Hockey News.
Jost will be heading to the States to play college hockey for the 2016-17 season. Last year he committed to the University of North Dakota.
"He's heart and soul," said Craig Button on TSN's coverage after the Draft Lottery. "Marc Bergevin was in Chicago, he watched Jonathan Toews up close. When you watch Tyson Jost up close, that's what you see."
Jake Bean
A smooth skating, offensively gifted defenseman from the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, Jake Bean is one of several blueliners set to be taken in the top 15 of the draft.
Scouts praise his intelligence and poise with the puck, but also his positioning without it. Bean carted 24 goals and 40 assists in 68 games this season, and was heavily looked upon when his defense partner, Travis Sanheim, was missing on multiple occasions.
Bean, who went undrafted and entered the WHL in 2014 with something to prove, can quarterback a power play and has developed into quite the well-balanced player.
"At 6’1" and 170 pounds, Jake Bean remains slight of build, but handles the rigors well with the help of quick feet, great vision and hockey IQ." - Glen Erickson. Hockey's Future.
Besides, what's the worst that could happen when bringing in a left-handed defenseman from the WHL that wears No. 2 into Ottawa?
Clayton Keller
One of the youngest prospects eligible to be drafted in late June, Clayton Keller is an extremely fast skater that has had to overcome his size, clocking in at only 5'10".
Keller has the shot - a wicked release, I might add - but his playmaking ability is his most exciting attribute. The 17-year-old has developed amazing puckhandling skills and can dissect the offensive zone like an experience hockey surgeon, reading the play excellently with his head up at all times.
"Keller is a strong, shifty skater with a powerful shot, displaying brilliance and hockey sense strikingly similar to what Marner brings to the ice. And while Marner is a winger, Keller is equally adept at bringing you out of your seat while leaving amazed opponents on the very edge of theirs." - Steve Kournianos. The Draft Analyst.
The Swansea, Illinois, native had 13 goals and 24 assists in 23 games with the USA National Team Development Program in the USHL this season.
Charles McAvoy
With a name that sounds like he should have the lead role in a Mighty Ducks movie, Charlie McAvoy - as his friends and colour commentators call him - ranked 14th in TSN's latest draft rankings.
Whether they want to admit it or not, the Senators need defensemen. Mikael Wikstrand isn't coming back to North America any time soon, Fredrik Claesson is further away from an NHL job than we thought, and although Thomas Chabot is having a heck of a year, he's still 19 and there's no way the organization will want to rush him into the NHL.
McAvoy is an all-star when it comes to creating offense. Scouts rave about his hockey IQ and the passing aspect of his game. But while other offensive defensemen in the draft are more well-rounded and definite two-way players, McAvoy still needs a bit of work in the defensive end. At times, he can be a little too risky.
"McAvoy, who has always exhibited terrific puck possession skills, a strong skating ability and poise with the puck on his stick, is looking to show NHL scouts that he has what it takes to be drafted in the top half of the first round with his play in all three zones." - Jeff Cox. SB Nation.
A product of the USA NTDP, the 18-year-old carted 3 goals and 22 assists in 37 games with Boston University this season.
Logan Brown
If there's one word to describe Logan Brown it would be powerhouse.
The 6'6" Windsor Spitfires centre is a towering human being and uses every inch of his body to his advantage. Reported as a pass-first player, Brown has expert playmaking abilities and can read the offensive very well. It may have come as a surprise during the early stages of his OHL career, seeing as you don't see many playmaking giants nowadays, but the 18-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, is definitely a well-known threat.
"He can be dominant in the offensive zone but takes care of his own end as well. His 6'6 frame is key to his success as he uses his body to shield his puck and his reach to keep it off other players sticks. He is not overly physical for a player his size, but will finish every check and battle down low very effectively. He has a good shot with a pro like release as well as good creativity and maturity when passing the puck." - Tyler Parchem. Elite Prospects.
Maybe it's his slightly-above-average speed, but for his offensive talent and overall output, Brown seems to be lower in a lot of scout's rankings than he should be. He notched 21 goals and 53 assists in 59 games this season, and also played extremely well at the U-18 WJC, carting 3 goals and 9 assists in 7 games.
Who would you rather the Senators pick at No. 12?
Clayton Keller | 187 |
Jake Bean | 97 |
Charles McAvoy | 28 |
Tyson Jost | 231 |
Logan Brown | 292 |
Other (I'll explain in the comment section) | 41 |