Senators Mock Draft 1.0 – Ottawa Picks 21st

For the first time since 2017, the Ottawa Senators were not involved in the NHL Draft Lottery, which saw the New York Islanders jump up to first overall on May 5. Thanks to their first playoff berth in seven years, the Senators have the 21st selection.

Although the Senators could use some more top-tier prospects, picking lower isn’t an issue for general manager Steve Staios. The team’s playoff window is open now, and the active roster is the top priority. However, Staios has been balanced in his approach, never fully selling off the future for short-term gains, so if he chooses to keep the pick, then there are plenty of players he could look at.

Predicting Picks 1-20

The 2025 NHL Draft could go several different ways, especially after the top 10 are selected, opening up the draft for several intriguing prospects. Although it’s difficult to predict at this time, I looked at organizational needs and past draft trends while referencing my own draft ranking. Before the Senators lock in their selection, the draft could go something like this:

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LD, Erie Otters
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens
4. Utah Mammoth: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats
5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College
6. Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads
7. Boston Bruins: Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds
8. Seattle Kraken: Radim Mrtka, RD, Seattle Thunderbirds
9. Buffalo Sabres: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings
10. Anaheim Ducks: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgardens
12. New York Rangers: Kashawn Aitcheson, LD, Barrie Colts
13. Detroit Red Wings: Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Jackson Smith, LD, Tri-City Americans
15. Vancouver Canucks: Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors
16. Montreal Canadiens: Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainsville-Boisbriand Armada
17. Montreal Canadiens: Logan Hensler, RD, U. of Wisconsin
18. Calgary Flames: Ben Kindel, C, Calgary Hitmen
19. St. Louis Blues: Cameron Reid, LD, Kitchener Rangers
20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters

Pick #21 – Who’s Available?

If the draft plays out like above, the Senators will have their picks of several talented prospects, all of whom could improve certain weaknesses in the organization. One of the most intriguing is Cameron Schmidt, who starred with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was one of the league’s most dangerous goal-scorers, finishing the season with 40 goals in 61 games. Although he is on the smaller side at 5-foot-7, he plays a similar style to Conor Garland, Logan Stankoven, and Cole Caufield, blending speed and tenacity with high-end offensive skills. For a team that didn’t have enough scoring chances, he’s a great option.

Cullen Potter is another excellent offensive threat who shone as a freshman with the University of Arizona last season. Like Schmidt, Potter is excellent at creating scoring chances, but where he shines is in his movement. He’s arguably one of the best skaters of his draft class, and with his high level of speed and deceptiveness, he scored 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games. He’s also on the smaller side at 5-foot-10, but is a dangerous transition player who promises to be a dangerous offensive player when he leaves college and could mix well with Tim Stutzle’s speed.

Goaltending is another area the Senators had some issues in throughout the season, struggling to find consistent performers behind Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen. While there aren’t many high-end options available, Joshua Ravensbergen is the highest-ranked goalie heading into the 2025 Draft and is projected to be a late first-round pick. He’s a big presence in net, standing 6-foot-5, and he uses it well, playing a strong positional game. He doesn’t project to be a starting NHL goalie, but having a reliable backup in the system would be a significant upgrade for the Senators.

Ottawa Selects Braeden Cootes

However, my favourite and arguably the best fit for Ottawa is Braeden Cootes, whose play style fits very well with the Senators’ core. He’s an incredibly hard worker, driving hard into the tough areas of the ice to retrieve pucks and create scoring chances, driving back just as aggressively on defence, fighting to regain possession and help out his team. He’s not flashy like Schmidt or Potter, but what he lacks in flair, he makes up for with intensity, which makes him a highly effective player. Even on a weaker Seattle Thunderbirds team, he still scored 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games, plus another eight points in six playoff games. It’s no surprise that his team made him one of the youngest captains in franchise history. That sounds like a great complement to Brady Tkachuk’s gritty style.