SENSNEWS

Ottawa Senators’ prospect Blake Montgomery is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in the Senators’ system.

After being drafted in the 4th round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Montgomery has made significant strides in his development as a player.

Blake Montgomery Season In Short

The season started in the USHL for Montgomery with the Lincoln Stars. The winger was performing relatively well, scoring 10 points in 10 games.

But he then made a surprising move to the OHL, catching many fans off guard.

The London Knights held Montgomery’s rights, and he agreed to sign with them.

This decision was likely influenced by the new NCAA-CHL agreement, which now allows major junior players to retain eligibility for Division 1 programs.

Montgomery remains committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2025-2026 season.

However, his progress in the OHL so far has led some fans to question whether he’ll need another year in college to develop, or if he’ll be ready for the pro game.

If Montgomery continues his current form, it’s hard to argue against him being capable of playing AHL games next season.

But that’s a decision that’s still months away. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at Montgomery’s performance with London.

Montgomery Taking Off With London

His start with London was solid, with production at a similar level to his time with Lincoln.

However, in recent weeks, his game has taken another huge leap forward, with outstanding numbers to show for it.

In his last five games, Montgomery has scored seven goals and added five assists for 12 points.

On Saturday night, he scored another two goals, extending his OHL point streak to 10 games. For the season, he’s already amassed 32 points in 23 games.

Montgomery is proving to be a goal-scoring machine, and if he maintains this pace, he could approach a goal-per-game mark in the OHL—an incredible accomplishment.

Currently, Blake Montgomery sits 5th in points on the London Knights, behind prospects like Denver Barkey and Sam Dickinson.

However, he has played significantly fewer games than these players and is still closing in on their point totals.

Easton Cowan, a household name among NHL prospects, has production very similar to Montgomery’s.

Cowan has 30 points in 22 games, while Montgomery has 32 in 23. Both players are 2005-born, though Cowan was drafted back in 2023.

While Montgomery doesn’t yet have Cowan’s track record, his performance this season places him in the same conversation.

Some argue Montgomery’s stats are inflated due to the London Knights being a dominant junior organization. However, I would argue otherwise.

In fact, Montgomery’s best stretch of the season came during the World Junior Championship, when many of London’s top players, like Easton Cowan, Sam Dickinson, and Kasper Halttunen, were absent from the lineup.

The fact that Montgomery played his best hockey during this period demonstrates that he isn’t just benefiting from a strong supporting cast.

He’s driving play and creating opportunities himself, as evident from the way he’s been producing points.

Why Montgomery Has Been So Dominant

Montgomery’s large frame and excellent skating ability allow him to create space for himself on the ice.

He’s strong enough to shield off defenders while possessing the edge work to navigate the offensive zone effectively.

His skill set is exceptional, which raises the question: how did he fall all the way to the 4th round in last year’s draft?

That’s a question scouts were already asking before this season even began.

Several scouts were high on Montgomery going into the draft, recognizing his toolkit and his potential to become a truly impactful pro player.

After Carter Yakemchuk, the Senators’ prospect rankings become more debatable.

At this point, there’s a strong argument to be made for Blake Montgomery being the organization’s second-best skater prospect.

Of course, other players, like Stephen Halliday and Zack Ostapchuk, are also in the conversation.

However, Montgomery has done enough to place himself firmly among these names. It will be fascinating to see how the rest of this season unfolds for him.