Senators scouts preparing for ‘our playoffs’ as draft looms
The Ottawa Senators have two selections in the first round of next month’s NHL draft, but that doesn’t mean they’ll sit still.
Pierre Dorion has been one of the NHL’s most aggressive general managers in his two years on the job and there’s always a chance the Senators could make a move with one of those picks during the June 22 and 23 draft in Dallas.
That’s why chief scout Trent Mann and his staff are preparing for any scenario this week at the Canadian Tire Centre.
“We have to be ready for anything,” Mann said. “I know Pierre has indicated we’re going to take the pick, but we don’t know who’s going to land on the doorstep and say, ‘You know what? I’ll make a deal for this.’
“Those are all scenarios that we have to be prepared for no matter what draft it is. Pierre’s pretty aggressive as far as discussions with other general managers, and we know that, so we’re going to be ready for any kind of scenario.”
Mann said he’s confident if the Senators make the two selections they’ll have strong prospects. The Senators will take part in the NHL Combine being held later this month in Buffalo and they’ll interview players who pique the club’s interest.
“I feel our staff does a good enough job and are thorough enough in their work that we’ll get two good players,” Mann said. “Last year, we had four picks total in the draft and I feel the staff did a pretty good job.
“Now, we have two first-round picks and, for the staff, this is like our playoffs.
“We’re excited about that opportunity because we feel we’re going to get the chance to help the team with two players.”
The Senators feel there’s a lot of strong prospects available.
The club has seven picks in this year’s draft, including the two in Round 1 and two in Round 7. The club doesn’t have a second- or third-round pick at this juncture, but Dorion indicated after the draft lottery that he’d tried to get into the second round.
“There’s depth in this draft. That’s why to get to No. 22 you’re getting a player that you like even more than a little bit later on,” Mann said.