SCOUT SAYS SENS READY FOR EVERY DRAFT POSSIBILITY

Team has 10th pick but could move up or down depending on who is available

The Ottawa Senators have put their list in place for the NHL draft this weekend and now they're preparing for every scenario.

While chief scout Trent Mann is confident the Senators will get a strong player if they keep the No. 10 overall selection in Round 1 of the virtual draft Friday, he and the staff have held discussions with general manager Pierre Dorion about the possibility of moving up or back as part of their preparations for the annual crapshoot.

Those talks at the Canadian Tire Centre this week are no different than ones taking place in all 32 NHL war rooms this week, but the Senators have plenty of prospects and can study every possibility. Should they decide, in the end, staying in the No. 10 slot makes the most sense, then club has no concerns.

Rounds two through seven will be held Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

“I'm very confident that we're going to get a player that we're extremely excited about and that's going to be able to help the organization down the road at some point,” Mann told reporters in a Zoom call Tuesday. “Moving forward, the likelihood of somebody stepping into the NHL right away is difficult in a normal year under normal circumstances.

“When you pick at No. 10 it's unlikely it's somebody for this coming season, but down the road I have no doubt that it's going to be someone who can help us, for sure.”

There will be a lot of work done internally and externally looking at what the cost is of moving up or back in this draft. This isn't regarded by many as the deepest draft and that's why Dorion is exploring the possibility of switching picks, which he's done in the past. Is it likely? No, but it does have to be explored.

The club's scouts in Canada are all in Ottawa while the American and European-based scouts are working from their homes because of the border restrictions, much the same way they did last year.

Mann alluded to the fact that teams behind the Senators may want to select either Swedish goalie Jesper Wallstedt or Edmonton netminder Sebastian Cossa, who are both rated in the first round.

Those teams may be motivated to make a move with Ottawa.

“There's a couple of goalies there so there's always that possibility,” Mann said. “We have to be prepared for the fact that some team may want to take a goalie early because they don't feel there's enough depth in their organization. That's a scenario that does come into play and we'll work through those scenarios this week.

“We have in the past, but we're going to continue to work through them to make sure we're prepared for different circumstances. I like to think that we're as prepared as possible as a scouting group going into the draft. I don't see this year being any different, but equally, it's different because it's a different feel for everyone. It's not impossible, it's just different.”

We all know the challenges that have existed in the last 18 months. Several leagues either had limited playing time or didn't get off the ground at all. Much of the scouting and preparations for this draft has been done through the camera lens because scouts weren't able to attend games in person.

The Senators will have lots of options to choose from at No. 10. Local centre Mason McTavish and defenceman Brandt Clarke, who both went overseas to play, are rated to go in that zone. They could be there for the Senators and they're on the club's radar screen. Naturally, they're not going to be the only ones.

“It helped them go play in Europe because we were able to get eyes on them,” Mann said. “We were able to watch them play and see the progression that they made. It's definitely helpful (to them), there's no doubt about it, plus their time at the under-18 will help. Both of them are very good players. They bring a very different skill set and package.

“We've done our work on that as well. There's a chance they're there when we pick, but when you look at the amount of public lists that have come and the information from their (agents), it probably leans toward unlikely, but at the same time we're ready for that possibility.”

That's a good point because former NHL GM Craig Button, TSN's director of scouting, had McTavish selected at No. 4 by the New Jersey Devils in the mock draft released Tuesday while Clarke was at No. 8 to the Los Angeles Kings. It should be noted that Postmedia has been told the Kings are open for business on that selection and willing to move it.

Mann dismissed the notion the Senators “may take a gamble” at No. 10 because they have lots of good prospects in the organization. Let's be honest, the Senators have a good record at the table and they'll take the guy they want the most.

“At No. 10 there's going to be some solid players there, and unfortunately, we're going to have to play the waiting game and see what develops over the first five or six picks,” Mann said. “We'll see where that leaves us and then we'll have to make a quick decision. It's not going to be that difficult a decision because I believe we're prepared for that moment depending on which direction we go, depending on what presents itself.”