Dobber’s offseason fantasy hockey grades – Ottawa Senators

For the last 17 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 18th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer…er, winter. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

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Gone – Jayce Hawryluk, Scott Sabourin, Mark Borowiecki, Bobby Ryan, Craig Anderson, Mikkel Boedker, Anthony Duclair, Ron Hainsey

Incoming – Michael Haley, Alex Galchenyuk, Evgenii Dadonov, Austin Watson, Logan Shaw, Erik Gudbranson, Matt Murray, Josh Brown, Artem Zub

Impact of changes – While the rebuild is far from over, the Sens made some pretty serious upgrades. Much will depend on whether Murray rediscovers his old magic and stays healthy. But if so, and if Galchenyuk can do the same, then this will be a competitive team. Still not in the playoffs, but very competitive and a much better environment in which to bring along their young prospects.

The team injected a lot of size and grit when they added Haley, Watson, Gudbranson and Brown, more than compensating for Sabourin and Borowiecki. The Dadonov addition gives the team a legit top-six forward with experience. These moves will buy the prospects another year – so they won't be rushed into the Show if they're not ready.

Ready for full-time – Over these last several years, this section for Ottawa has been lengthy. This year is no exception. We'll kick things off with Drake Batherson again. At times during several NHL call-ups last year, Batherson looked like an NHL-ready top-sixer. At other times he seemed overwhelmed. But he has nothing left to prove in the AHL. In fact, it didn't seem as if the AHL ever provided a challenge for him, as his 116 points in 103 career games would indicate. With a better veteran cast around him and more experience under his belt, he should stick this go-around and even make a fantasy impact at times.

Logan Brown is probably competing with Norris (below) and Stuetzle (below) for two roster spots. None of the three needs to be placed on waivers in order to be sent down. Brown is a 6-6, 220-pound giant and all NHL teams would love to have someone like that up the middle. Brown has also conquered the AHL, posting 28 points in 25 games for Belleville. But he's also a little injury prone, and if something like that crops up in training camp, he'll lose the above battle. Brown, if he makes the team, will also be a PIM and Hits asset as well as potentially decent for points.

Josh Norris was the prize of the Erik Karlsson trade, so you can imagine how deeply the Sens value him. As an AHL rookie he made a huge splash, scoring 31 goals and 61 points in 56 games and going plus-9 with Belleville. Putting him in the AHL again wouldn't be fair to his opponents there. The later signing of Galchenyuk could see not just one of Brown, Norris and Stuetzle being sent down – but perhaps even two of them. Which would be a shame. But at this age (Norris is 21, Brown 22 and Stuetzle 18) it never hurts to delay the NHL by one more year.

Erik Brannstrom struggled in camp and during early stints in the NHL the last two seasons, but in the AHL he had everything figured out. The puck-moving blueliner posted nearly a point-per-game for Belleville. In the end he may just be competing with fellow prospect Zub (below) for the final spot on the blue line. You may see him in the AHL for at least a partial season.

Artem Zub had a nice offensive breakout in the KHL last season that attracted the interest of a few NHL teams. He owns a nice shot, but his strength is more in his defensive acumen. His fantasy appeal is in his potential Hits and BLKS. Offensively, prior to last year the 25-year-old has never put up big numbers.

Rudolfs Balcers missed much of last season with a leg injury and was inserted into the AHL lineup upon his return. He flourished right away, posting 36 points in 33 games before a late-season call-up. Balcers has to clear waivers in order to be sent down, so he will have a longer leash than most of the other prospects. It's doubtful he'll crack the top six this year, but stranger things have happened.

Filip Chlapik is the other prospect who has to go through waivers in order to be sent down, so he'll get a longer look than most. He has been back-and-forth between the AHL and NHL for three years now, but he's still only 23 and with waivers now looming, the yo-yo action will stop. Chlapik is more of a third-line energy guy with some PIM and Hits potential.

Tim Stuetzle is the prize prospect for the Senators. And not only does he have superstar potential, but he is already the top center in the organization. But politics play a role here. Do the Senators want to burn up a year of control just so he can play a mini-season on a non-playoff team? Or do they want to bring him in next year when the other top prospects have NHL experience, the entire roster has improved as a group, there is more of a winning culture and a full 82-game season can be had? I'm actually 50-50 on this one. I know what 'I' would do, but NHL teams never seem to listen to me (!). I guess true domination in training camp would force the matter.

Ottawa Senators prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here

Fantasy Outlook – The Senators finished second-to-last in the standings but were 25^th in offense. The addition of Dadonov and possibly revitalized Galchenyuk and a young Stuetzle, as well as the natural progress of their young players, should move them into the Top 20 for goals scored. Brady Tkachuk was one of just two 20-goal scorers last year at the age of 20, and Connor Brown was a bit of a revelation showing scoring-line potential. But the main fantasy appeal with this team revolves around their prospect pipeline, which is one of the best in the entire league. A lot of real nice prospects with fantasy upside will be joining the team over the next three seasons. And with Thomas Chabot on the blue line and Stuetzle up front, they have the star-caliber offense to build around. Much between the pipes will depend on Murray's ability to rebound and stay healthy.

A rebuilding fantasy dynasty team could do worse than adding a bunch of Ottawa prospects. Since our fantasy grades are not a product of what to expect on the ice this season, but instead represent the appeal to keeper league fantasy owners, Ottawa continues to move in the right direction.

Fantasy Grade: C (last year was C-)

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2020 Offseason Fantasy Hockey Grades

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