The Ottawa Senators announced this week that Tyler Kleven has signed a 3 year entry level contract with the organization. The first year of the contract will be burned this season, and will expire in the 2025-26 season when he’ll become a restricted free agent.
The 44th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is one of many draft picks that have been a success for the Senators since they were selected. According to Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion, Kleven will begin practicing with the team this week. However, games played will not be promised towards the 21 year old defenseman.
Let’s take a look at what we can expect from Kleven as he transitions from the NCAA to pro.
Type of player
Kleven is a throwback type of defenseman that you used to see everywhere in the dead puck era. Not only is he 6’4’, but he uses his size to his advantage. He’s mean and can throw a thunderous hit if he catches a player with his head down. He also has a heavy shot, which is how he scored 20 goals throughout his NCAA career.
While he doesn’t model a typical modern day player, he’s a defenseman who is an underrated skater. There were some concerns about his speed after he was drafted, but those have largely been put to rest following a standout collegiate career.
Kleven has spent 3 seasons at the University of North Dakota, where he’s refined his game to become a more well-rounded blueliner. That said, there are some areas where he continues to struggle a bit. His decision making with the puck has been questioned at times and is likely the main area of his game he needs to improve to transition into a full time NHLer.
If that was questioned at the NCAA level, then it might take him a little while to transition to the pro game. While he’s unlikely to become a razzle dazzle type of defenseman, that’s probably just fine for Ottawa given their lack of a bruising presence on the backend in recent years. His mobility has improved at North Dakota, but don’t expect him to maintain high puck possession numbers.
Trajectory
With Jakob Chychrun being added at the deadline, the Senators blueline is the deepest it’s been in years. With Kleven on the roster, the team will now be carrying 8 defensemen which Kleven is going to have to leapfrog.
While it’s unlikely he’ll play a ton down the stretch, with the recent bumps and bruises to Chychrun, there’s a chance he sneaks in some meaningful minutes in the near future.
Next season however, with a full training camp under his belt, expect him to challenge for a roster spot on the team’s third pairing. A full year in the AHL in 2023-24 would go a long way towards his development, but he could force the team’s hand with a strong showing in the fall.
He has the pro frame already and could survive the NHL grind. But Kleven played 95 games over 3 seasons for North Dakota, which isn’t a lot compared to the NHL’s 82 game schedule. With the AHL’s longer season, this would be a nice stepping stone for Kleven to gain experience before making a legitimate push for a spot in the 2024-25 campaign.
If developed properly, the 21 year old could be a great 3rd pair defenseman. With his physicality and ability to keep up with the rush, he could thrive as a physical presence outside the team’s top 4. His thunderous hits and shots could be huge momentum boosters in the playoffs as well.
These unique traits could make Kleven not just an NHL player, but a part of the Senators identity. Right now, Jakob Chychrun is the closest type of player the Senators have compared to Kleven. But Klevens’ shot and physicality are his strengths, which is what the Senators need more of if they’re to make a legitimate playoff run.
Future partners?
Kleven is most likely going to play on his strong side going forward. As a left pair defenseman, it’s clear what type of partner he’ll need to play with once he becomes a full time NHL blueliner.
Fans have seen what Erik Brannstrom can do playing on his offside these past couple of weeks. Brannstrom also prefers the right side. His strong puck moving ability would allow Kleven to focus on the defensive side of things. Another option could be 2019 1st round pick Lassi Thomson. With the Senators possibly in a cap crunch these next few years, it’s important to take advantage of players on their entry level contracts.
Thomson may not become a top 4 defenseman in the NHL, but he and Kleven could be a formidable pair down the line. They both have booming shots, and would be a dangerous threat taking one timers at the blue line.
Perhaps a longer shot, but someone he could see time with in the minors, would be Maxence Guenette, a 2019 7th round pick that is progressing well in the AHL.
Regardless of who it ultimately is, it’s clear what type of player Kleven will need to play with. He’s not going to be counted to start a breakout. Instead, he’ll be the first one in the defensive zone to break up plays with his physicality and long reach.
The Fargo, ND native will be a treat to watch in the coming years, but the Senators need to make sure they develop him properly. A year in the AHL will help his progression in the long run, and then he can start to become a part of the Senators identity. When the Senators eventually make their next postseason run, then I imagine Kleven will be a big part of it.
-Damian Smith
Twitter: @Damian__Smith
Photo: Michel Bernier. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.