Future is bright in Ottawa

Senators are loaded with multiple future star players to help team to success

As expected, Ottawa Senators have not been even close to make the playoffs. Point percentage .387 is a third lowest in the league and they are having a seven game losing streak. But their goal hasn't been to win this season, they are looking ahead to future years. Great group of young and talented players will help them to be more competitive in future years.

Senators offence especially is looking to be very powerful, they have shown that already. Tim Stutzle is playing a great rookie season and has potential to be a franchise forward. He has shown his offensive skills, but is also expected to improve his all-around game. GM Mika Laakso's comments about his future star: "He’s ridiculously skilled, though, as you will see if you look at any of his highlight videos. He’s fast, he’s a great playmaker, and his shot is amazing. He clearly has the tools to become an elite player in this league, and I personally am not especially worried about him."

Another great young forward is Brady Tkachuk. He is a modern-type power forward who does everything on ice. GM Laakso is very excited about his winger: "Through tenacity, combativeness and work ethic, he also exemplifies leadership skills that we know will benefit the team now and well into the future. Most of all, Brady has shown us through his maturity that he is coachable, committed to teamwork and determined to help us strengthen our team chemistry. For all these reasons, he is an exciting young player whose growth and development we are eager to support."

Another bright future forwards in Ottawa are Joshua Norris (23), Drake Batherson (24), Shane Pinto (21) and Eetu Luostarinen (23). And what will do prospect Mavrik Bourque when he arrives in Ottawa?That gives them a very good possibility to build their top-lines with excisting players and rookies.

Defence in Ottawa seems promising too. Their #1 dman Thomas Chabot (25) is already one of the league's best offensive dmen and is still getting better year after year. Behind Chabot there are Erik Brannstrom (22) and Lassi Thomson (21), who both has potential to be top-pair dmen in Ottawa.

Goalie situation is not quite that promising in Ottawa. They have a solid combo with Mads Sogaard (21) and Stuart Skinner (23) and they acquired Kaapo Kahkonen (25) from Vegas. GM Laakso seems to have high expectation over Kahkonen, he traded Conor Garland to Vegas for him. None of those three doesn't have enough potential to be a top-goalie in the league, unless Laakso knows something we others doesn't.

What will happen on a draft day? Senators will have a very high pick, maybe even 1st overall. Will they keep it and select another very potential young player? Rumours tell that GM Laakso is considering to trade their 1st round pick. He's eager to acquire a finnish player, a fellow countryman. Question is, is there any top-Finns available?