SENSNEWS

With the NHL season on the horizon and the draft out of the way, I wanted to take an updated look at the Ottawa Senators’ prospect pool and share my top 10 rankings.

To qualify for this list, a player must be 23 years old or younger.

Without further ado, let’s start with the honourable mentions: Javon Moore, Kevin Reidler, Blake Vanek, Oskar Pettersson, and Matthew Andonovski.

All of these players are solid prospects within the system but narrowly missed out on the top 10.

Top 10 Ottawa Senators Prospects Rankings

10. Donovan Sebrango

Last season, Sebrango was ranked sixth on my list. His drop to tenth is more reflective of the added talent in the system than a decline in his own performance.

Sebrango had a strong season in Belleville, posting 20 points in 50 games while playing a physical, top-four role.

I still see him as a potential bottom-pairing option for Ottawa, but he couldn’t quite edge out the names ranked ahead of him.

9. Bruno Idzan

A newcomer to the list, Idzan was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Draft. As a 19-year-old overager, he impressed in the USHL with 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points in 36 games.

He’ll be moving to the University of Wisconsin this season, where he’ll join other Senators prospects. His offensive ceiling is what earned him a spot in the top 10 despite being a later-round pick.

8. Lucas Ellinas

Ellinas stays at number eight, the same spot he held in my last rankings.

While his regular season with the Kitchener Rangers (20 goals, 17 assists in 50 games) was solid, it was his playoff performance that stood out with 8 goals and 8 assists in just 14 games.

Ellinas continues to be a Swiss Army knife-type player, and his ability to elevate in the postseason boosts his long-term value.

7. Jorian Donovan

Also holding steady in the rankings, Donovan spent the season with Belleville, collecting 12 points in 64 games.

Still only 21, he showed growth as a reliable defensive presence. His physicality and defensive instincts remain his strongest assets, and with a full pro season under his belt, this upcoming year will be key for him to take the next step.

6. Lucas Beckman

Another new face on the list, Beckman was Ottawa’s fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft.

The goaltender had an impressive year with Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average across 52 games.

He was even better in the playoffs, with a .922 save percentage in 11 games. Given the QMJHL’s reputation as a high-scoring league, those numbers are especially promising.

Beckman has the potential to be one of the top CHL goalies this coming season.

5. Stephen Halliday

Halliday drops from third to fifth, though like others, it’s more due to rising talent around him. He had a strong year with Belleville, putting up 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 71 games.

Likely to be the team’s top center again, Halliday will be expected to push toward a point-per-game pace and could earn an NHL call-up if injuries arise.

A dominant AHL season could be the final push he needs to crack the NHL lineup.

4. Blake Montgomery

Moving up a spot, Montgomery was fantastic for the London Knights, tallying 50 points in 51 games and helping the team win both the OHL Championship and the Memorial Cup.

With London’s top stars away at the World Juniors, Montgomery stepped up in a big way. He’ll now head to the University of Wisconsin, where he should play a top-six role.

With his size and speed, he projects as a potential middle-six forward for Ottawa.

3. Logan Hensler

The Senators’ 2025 first-round pick lands at number three. Hensler, a mobile right-shot defenseman, had 12 points in 32 games during his freshman year at Wisconsin.

Drafted 23rd overall, many scouts believed he could’ve gone higher. His combination of skating, defensive IQ, and handedness make him an exciting top-four NHL prospect.

Don’t be surprised if he moves up to number two—or even number one—by the time the next rankings are released.

2. Leevi Merilainen

Holding steady at number two is Leevi Meriläinen, who retains the same position from my last rankings—and for good reason.

He looked strong at both the AHL and NHL levels this past season and has all but solidified himself as the Senators’ goaltender of the future.

This will likely be the final year he appears on this list, as he’s signed to a one-way contract for the upcoming season.

Meriläinen posted a .925 save percentage in 12 NHL games with Ottawa and a solid .913 save percentage in the AHL with Belleville.

His consistency across both leagues was impressive, and at just 22 years old, he projects as a future NHL starter with real staying power.

1. Carter Yakemchuk

Once again taking the top spot is Carter Yakemchuk. While his offensive numbers dipped slightly this past season with the Calgary Hitmen, he made strides in other critical areas of his game.

He recorded 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 56 games, along with 7 points in 11 playoff games.

Yakemchuk entered the year focused on improving the weaknesses in his draft profile—particularly his skating and defensive awareness.

According to reports from Ottawa’s recent development camp, he was one of the standout performers and is aiming to make the NHL roster out of training camp.

That said, I believe a year in Belleville would be best for his development. With the Senators already having right-handed defensemen like Artem Zub, Jordan Spence, Nikolas Matinpalo, and eventually a returning Nick Jensen, there’s no need to rush Yakemchuk.

Slotting him into Belleville’s top four and giving him power play opportunities will allow him to build confidence and round out his game at the pro level.

And that wraps up my updated Top 10 Ottawa Senators Prospects. Let me know your thoughts in the comments—who did I rank too high? Who did I leave out? And most importantly, let’s see how these players develop as the season unfolds.