Continuing with the Sens player assessments, we will be grading their forward core, player by player with a minimum of 10 games played at the NHL level. Similar to their overall standing placement, they were 26th in goals scored during the 2021-22 season. There were plenty of missed games this year by key personnel, but in order to contend for the playoffs next year, scoring more goals is vital for the team’s on ice success. Let’s take a look:
Mathieu Joseph: A
Fans were pleasantly surprised by Joseph’s contributions. He recorded 12 points in 11 games after being acquired at the deadline. He’ll need a new contract this summer, but he played very well in all three zones during his brief stint. He has speed, good skill and is hard working which fits well into the Sens culture.
Logan Shaw: C
There was a point at the start of the year when Logan Shaw was the teams 4th line center. That was necessitated due to Shane Pinto and Colin Whites’ injuries, forcing Shaw into an NHL role. He did fine but was clearly more valuable at the AHL level as Belleville’s captain.
Colin White: C-
This is a tough one. On the bright side, White is an NHL player. But it’s hard to see where he fits in as he’s struggled the past 3 years. Ideally, he’s a third line right winger, but that spot seems to be taken up by Connor Brown. He isn’t great at faceoffs which rules him out on being a full-time center, but he also hasn’t produced at a top 6 rate since 2018-19. Based on his draft pedigree and contract, it’s fair to say he hasn’t met expectations this year.
Parker Kelly: B
If there’s one player that reminds me of Chris Neil, it’s Kelly. Not in the sense that he’s going to be an enforcer, but Kelly could be a fixture in the bottom 6 for years to come. He’s come a long way since being signed in 2017 and is still only 22. He makes under 800k for the next two seasons, which is great value for a 4th line player. In a year where depth scoring was exposed, Kelly was a bright spot with 12 points in 41 games, in limited minutes.
Drake Batherson: A
Many believed Drake Batherson was going to be good, but few thought he’d be this good, this fast. With 44 points in 46 games, he took that next step as an NHL forward. He makes any player on his line look good with his vision, passing and shot selection which combine to make a great top 6 forward. The question now is, does he have another level to reach?
Adam Gaudette: C
Gaudette started off well with 12 points in his first 25 games, but then went pointless in the next 25. He never hurt the team, but his style of play might not have fit the Sens system. Gaudette thrives more on skill rather than physicality. He’s in an odd spot, because he’s not skilled enough to produce in the top 6 but doesn’t play a physical game built for the bottom 6. He’s set to become an RFA this offseason, so it will be interesting to see what Ottawa does here.
Tyler Ennis: B-
It was nice to see Ennis back in a Sens uniform, and many in Sens Nation wouldn’t be upset to see him come back next year if the money is right. Similar to Gaudette, he’s okay in the top 6 in short stints, but doesn’t play a style that would fit the Sens bottom six. That being said, he’s a hard worker and has flashed some skill in the past, so I think he deserves another contract. Whenever there’s an injury in the top 6, Ennis would be a perfect replacement for a game or two.
Nick Paul: C+
He obviously isn’t on the Sens anymore, but Sens fans will always appreciate Nick Paul’s work ethic. He went through waivers multiple times but worked his way into an everyday NHL role. Because of injuries at center, he was the Sens second line center for a decent stretch of the season. With 18 points in 59 games, his production was a little disappointing with an average of 17 minutes of ice time. Still, Sens fans appreciate the solid he did us by scoring both goals in Game 7 to eliminate the Leafs.
Zach Sanford: D+
Sanford also isn’t on the team anymore and had an up and down season. When playing well, Sanford is physical and has flashes of skill. But when not playing up to his abilities, he often left fans wanting more. With 17 points in 62 games, he was traded at the deadline for a 5th round pick.
Dylan Gambrell: C
Acquired in November, Gambrell was a regular in the lineup on the 4th line. He was one of three forwards with a + rating (+2). He was responsible defensively but had very little offensive impact. Once a good scorer in the NCAA, many were surprised there wasn’t a little more point production. With 7 points in 63 games in 12 minutes of average ice time, it’s possible he’s replaced this summer.
Connor Brown: B+
It seems like Connor Brown gets better every year, even though he’s now 28 years old. With 39 points in 64 games, 2021-22 was one of his best offensive seasons to date. On any given night, Brown will bring effort and skill which should be invaluable for the culture Ottawa is trying to build. He exudes professionalism and should be a veteran player going forward. He also led all forwards in ice time, showing that he can be trusted in a variety of situations.
Josh Norris: A
We knew Josh Norris could score based on his AHL totals where he racked up 31 goals in 56 games in 2019-20. But few imagined he would score at the same rate this year at the NHL level with 35 goals in 66 games. What’s most impressive was his consistency, and that he doesn’t play like a stereotypical goal scorer. His longest goalless drought was 6 games and lead the team in power play goals with 16. The challenge going forward will be: how will he adapt to more pressure from other teams’ defense? Now that there’s film on him at the NHL level, will teams adapt their systems to try to mitigate his
Austin Watson: C+
The first 5 months of Watsons’ season saw him record just 6 points in his first 51 games. Which was disappointing because Watson was never known as just a physical player, incapable of providing offense. But in April, he finished the month with 10 points (7 goals) in 16 games. It might have saved him an everyday spot in the lineup next year, with several prospects knocking on the door. That being said, he was counted on defensively but needs to be more consistent offensively if he wants to figure into the team’s future plans.
Chris Tierney: D
Tierney was acquired in 2018 and scored at a 47-point rate for his first two seasons as a Senator. In his next two seasons, he scored at a 24-point rate. Cutting his production rate in half, it’s clear as day that he would not be coming back next season. To be fair, he had some injury issues the past two seasons and should get another NHL contract at only 27 years old. It just won’t be coming with Ottawa.
Alex Formenton: B
It was a good year for Formenton, who potted 18 goals and probably could have had another dozen if he’d converted on some of his breakaway attempts. Many forget that he’s only 22, and probably has a lot more room to grow. As everyone knows, he’s extremely fast and will always be an NHL player because of that. He’s a great penalty killer and can provide some physicality as well. We saw him seem out of sorts trying to keep up with Tim Stutzle in the top 6, which was always asking a lot of him. Hopefully Dorion makes good on his promise to bring in a top 6 forward this summer so Formenton can resume his third line role going forward.
Brady Tkachuk: A
Observing Brady Tkachuk lead this team is a pleasure to watch. At only 22, he acts like a veteran on and off the ice (unless he’s cheering on his brother, in which case he reverts to a lovable 8 year old, albeit one with an affinity for Bud Light). No one ever questioned his character, but there were always questions about his offensive upside going forward. He put those concerns to rest with 67 points in 79 games, leading the team in scoring. His scoring will only go up when the Sens become playoff contenders. The most notable improvement was his decision making in the offensive zone. Instead of relying solely on his physical tools, he made better decisions by taking an extra half second to read the play instead of rushing things.
Tim Stutzle: A-
Early on, it looked like Stutzle was going to have the dreaded sophomore slump. With 7 points in his first 16 games, he made the transition from wing to center, and suddenly things began to click for him. The move allowed him to see the ice better and use his full arsenal of elite offensive skills. With 51 points in his last 63 games, he started to look every bit the part of a top draft pick. Even though he was drafted as a winger, his play at center impressed everyone.
The Senators’ young core is growing well together. All of the young players scored at least a B rating or higher, which is a very good sign for the future. However, the rest of the roster seems to be composed of the much lamented “filler” players at this point. The depth at forward was exposed this year, and fans expect major additions to the forward group this off season by Pierre Dorion and Co.
-Damian Smith
Twitter: @Damian__Smith
Photo: The AHL, China Wong. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.