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The Ottawa Senators entered the 2023 NHL entry draft with a total of 5 picks in rounds 4, 5, and 7. With their limited draft capital, the Sens drafted the following players: Hoyt Stanley, Matthew Andonovski, Owen Beckner, Vladimir Nikitin, and Nicholas Vantassell. In this article, I will be breaking down what each of these players brings to the table.
Senators 2023 Draft Overview
Hoyt Stanley (Victoria BCHL)
4th Round: 108th Overall
Defenceman: 4 Goals, 34 Assists, 38 Points in 53 Games Played
The first Senator to be selected in the draft was none other than Hoyt Stanley of the Victoria Grizzlies. Stanley is a very raw prospect, he has plenty of terrific tools that he will have to put together to be effective at the pro level. He has an intriguing mix of size and solid skating ability which allows him to transition pucks very effectively. Hoyt is listed at 6’3 and 205lbs according to elite prospects and is also described as having elite mobility which allows him to move the puck up the ice with ease. This blend of size and skating makes Stanley one of the Senator’s more exciting prospects moving forward!
“Whether it’s through breakout passing or end-to-end carries, he exploits his mobility and large-ice maneuverability to be a menace working north to south.” – EliteProspects
Matthew Andonovski (Kitchener OHL)
5th Round: 140th Overall
Defenceman: 0 Goals, 16 Assists, 16 Points in 67 Games Played
The next player to be selected by the Senators in the draft was Matthew Andonovski of the Kitchener Rangers. Andonovski may not bring elite-level skill to the Senators, but what he does bring is an elite compete level. This is a player who loves to intimidate his opponents and has the bite to match his bark. When you think of Andonovski, you will think about a player who stands up for his teammates and wears down opponents piece by piece. While the team did not pick a player with the highest upside, they picked a guy who plays a gritty but necessary role.
Owen Beckner (Salmon Arm BCHL)
7th Round: 204th Overall
Centre: 17 Goals, 33 Assists, 50 Points in 53 Games Player
The first of three seventh-round picks for the Sens was Owen Beckner of Salmon Arm in the BCHL. Beckner is a prospect who has shown flashes of pro skill in the BCHL both on the offensive and defensive side of the puck. Beckner was described as somebody who lacked consistency at the junior level but did show flashes of play-driving ability. His calling card however is his two-way game as Beckner showed great tracking abilities which allow his defenders to jump into the play. As a prospect, Beckner is still very raw and needs to find consistency, but could prove to be a great pick if he can find success against higher competition.
Beckner is committed to Colorado College in the NCAA this season.
Vladimir Nikitin (Barys Nur-Sultan Kazakhstan U20)
7th Round: 207th Overall
Goaltender: .921 SV%, 2.07 GAA, 3 Shutouts in 24 Games Played
The first and only goaltender selected in the draft for the Sens is Vladimir Nikitin from Kazakhstan. Nikitin is a difficult prospect to find information on, but the numbers speak for themselves. What likely got the Kazakhstani goaltender drafted was his elite play in the U18 Division 1 World Junior Championships. In this tournament, Nikitin posted a .936 SV% and a 1.50 GAA in 5 games which helped Kazakhstan win the tournament and earn a promotion to the top division. Nikitin earned the best goaltender of the tournament and the MVP for his team as well.
Nicholas Vantassell (Green Bay USHL)
7th Round: 215th Overall
Centre: 19 Goals, 18 Assists, 37 Points in 62 Games Played
The final selection for the Ottawa Senators in the 2023 NHL draft was Nicholas Vantassell of Green Bay in the USHL. Vantassell is a player who has elite-level hands and a solid finishing ability, especially at his size (6’4 196lbs). The biggest knock on the game of Vantassell is his skating ability which could use some work. With this pick, the Senators are trusting their development team to try to turn Vantassell into a player who could utilize his reach and soft hands to create offense at the pro level. Vantassell is committed to UMASS for the 2023/2024 season.
If you like Sens prospect discussion, check out this article breaking down the Senators top-10 prospects!
Ranking The Top-10 Senators Prospects
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