The 2025-26 NHL season was marked by eleven different defencemen suiting up for the Ottawa Senators. The defensive depth on this team was tested and proved to be a major asset that helped propel the team into the playoffs.
As the saying goes, you can never have too many defencemen, and I think how the Sens eventually choose to replace the now-30-year-old Artem Zub will be key to the team’s future success.
At 32nd overall, Don Boyd and co. will have an opportunity to draft a player who they hope can play in all situations in 3-4 years time. If they decide to go with a defenceman, my current read on this draft class indicates that they might be better off leaning to the right side because two candidates who I think will be available – Juho Piiparinen (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) and Adam Goljer (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) – are stronger options than the left-shot alternatives.
The Senators already have two left-shot, offensive-minded defencemen capable of driving play on the left side in Sanderson and Chabot, so there is no harm in finding another complementary partner for one of those two in the coming years.
If they choose a left-shot, a player like William Håkansson (6-foot-4, 207 pounds) might be someone who could eventually play alongside Carter Yakemchuk or Jordan Spence in the coming years. He possesses some of the same characteristics that make Zub effective, and those qualities could appeal to Steve Staios and his team.
All three of these players possess traits that fit the profile that the Sens scouts have tended to favour in the first-round: six-foot-plus, 190-pound-plus, good skaters, high compete levels, strong gap control, elements of physicality, and the ability to make a strong first breakout pass.
Those traits can also be seen in previous selections such as Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. At 32nd overall, it’ll be hard to come by players who possess both elite offensive and defensive abilities, but I’ve ended up selecting three European prospects because I find the players who have already played professionally against men can sometimes be more developed than their North American counterparts at this draft slot.
I have introduced the players below in order of my personal preference and based on whom I hope the Senators will select if they choose a defenceman in this year’s draft.
Juho Piiparinen, RD
Team: Tappara, Liiga (FIN)
Background
Piiparinen stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 203 pounds. A well-rounded, balanced defender, Piiparinen plays a quiet and simple game: he moves the puck well, and defends all situations well. For a team like Ottawa who has skill on the left side that’ll be leading rushes and jumping into the offensive zone with regularity, Piiparinen sounds like a great complement.
Scouts see a high floor for this player, with his NHL-ready frame and hockey sense already allowing him to accelerate his development by playing 29 games against men in Liiga this year with a strong Tappara squad.
While his point totals – 3 assists – might scare people off by thinking he has a low offensive ceiling, keep in mind that it takes quite a bit for young players to earn the trust of their coaches in pro hockey, so don’t jump to conclusions just yet. Piiparinen is a natural leader, having captained Finland at the U18s this year, won his U18 league championship the year prior, and was the second youngest player to play in Liiga this season.
For the Senators, you could see Piiparinen as a natural successor to Artem Zub, and a potential cost-controlled replacement whose development you could potentially speed up with AHL play in 1-2 seasons time.
Scouting Report
Offensively, take a look at Piiparinen’s toolkit in the video below. I like how he’s able to use his size at the top of the point to shield the puck to find an open teammate, his willingness to skate downhill with momentum along the side boards to keep plays alive, and his effort level on board battles to win pucks for his teammates.
Two key takeaways: Piiparinen is aware of game state and positioning, and is focused on protecting the puck and avoiding turnovers; moreover, he recognizes that his role at this time isn’t to drive offence himself, but to find players who are more able to do that than him.
This shows maturity that is rare at 18 – he knows his game and accepts it. I believe that this mindset is key for complementary players who play top-four minutes because he can be trusted to play within his game and not be a liability of trying to do something outside of his scope of abilities.
Defensively, I think the video below captures Piiparinen’s toolkit well. At 1:25 into the video, the Swedes have an excellent scoring chance extinguished by the play of Piiparinen, who uses his skating and size to gain enough position to stop the Swedish forward from getting a shot on net.
Throughout the video, you will see him making breakout passes, leading the breakout from behind the net and finding open teammates throughout the ice – key defensive skills for zone exits. At 10:29, he wins a tough puck battle along the boards through strength and determination.
Final Thoughts
Piiparinen feels like a player who exemplifies leadership, maturity, and the battle prowess that the Senators seem to love. While he doesn’t have one high-end tool, Piiparinen does everything well and doesn’t have many weaknesses.
Drafting a ready-made NHLer with the last pick of the first-round feels like good value at that slot, and I can see Piiparinen coming over to the AHL after one more year in Finland, which opens up the possibility of him helping the NHL roster sooner rather than later – fitting into the current core’s timeline.
Adam Gojler, RD
Team: HK Dukla Trenčín (SVK)
Background
Goljer is a 6-foot-2, 194-pound smooth-skating defenceman with a refined defensive game. He was the youngest player in the Slovak men’s league this season, playing all 43 games before his 18th birthday. He also served as captain of Slovakia’s U18 team this year.
Goljer recorded four goals and seven assists in 43 games with Dukla Trenčín while finishing with a minus-17 rating. He played significant minutes against professionals and already possesses the physical maturity needed to eventually play in the NHL.
Many mock draft rankings have him ahead of Piiparinen because of his higher offensive ceiling; for teams selecting in the second half of the first round, Goljer could represent a consolation prize after missing out on the elite defenders expected to be selected in the top 10.
Next season, he will most likely play in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs, where he should earn top-pairing minutes as they look to compete for a Memorial Cup. The transition to the narrower ice surface will be important for Goljer to learn manage the puck against a quicker pace of play, such as the decision of when to distribute versus protect the puck.
For the Senators, selecting Goljer will allow them to keep a watchful eye on a prospect playing close to home. If he reaches his potential, he’d serve as a higher-risk complement to a Sanderson or Chabot – a player who could effectively shut down opposing forwards and surprise with his ability to join the rush and contribute offensively.
Scouting Report
Offensively, Goljer possesses a skating toolkit that enables him to rush the puck into the offensive zone. He shows a growing offensive awareness, taking chances with the puck – even against men – and has the insight to seize moments to generate odd-player advantages for his team.
Like many young players, he can struggle when pressed, which is only compounded while he’s still growing into his body… but developing his nascent passing ability will help him learn skills to manage those situations better.
Defensively, Goljer uses his speed to close gaps and take away opportunities from opponents with his stick. He uses his size to muscle forwards off the puck but does not overly engage physically. Given his large frame, you would hope he adds a bit more physicality to his game as he continues to develop. He prides himself more on an offensive, dynamic style of defence and often uses his skating ability to recover from mistakes with the puck.
However, at the NHL level, it may be more difficult for him to rely on that recovery ability, as turnovers and mishandled pucks are punished much more quickly. If he can become more consistent with his puck management while maintaining his offensive instincts, his overall game will be much more effective.
Final Thoughts:
I think it will really come down to how much of his offensive game can translate to the NHL level. The smaller ice surface, along with bigger and faster players on average, will create a much different environment than what he is currently accustomed to.
The evaluation by Staios and the scouting staff will be crucial to ensure that Goljer does not become a long-term project, something the Senators may already have in their system with Hensler.
Fortunately, many of these questions could be answered as soon as next season. Goljer’s move to the OHL this season should provide a much better basis for comparison and a clearer indication of how his game projects to North America. A higher risk, but potentially higher reward type of pick for Staios and co.
William Håkansson, LD
Team: Luleå HF (SWE)
Background
Håkansson is a 6-foot-4, 207-pound shutdown defenceman with a massive frame that allows him to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. He has played in older age groups throughout his career due to his size and physical maturity.
Håkansson saw SHL time in his draft-1 year, but still surprisingly made Luleå’s SHL roster to start the year. Overall, 22 games in the SHL elevated his profile enough to a spot on Sweden’s World Juniors roster, where he had two assists in seven games for the champions.
When he returned, he played 16 games on loan with Almtuna in the second-tier Allsvenskan, and ended the year with playoff hockey on Luleå’s J20 squad.
The development question is as follows: has consistently playing against tougher competition benefited his development? Or has it suppressed his creativity? With Håkansson, it feels like it’s helped – he’s been able to get valuable playing time against men, while showcasing solid offensive instincts against his peers. Let’s learn more.
For the Senators, that Håkansson has already played against men for most of this season could get them thinking about his willingness to play in the AHL sooner rather than later. He could play in a Tyler Kleven-type role even if he’s a different player – Kleven being the more punishing defender while Håkansson might develop into a more poised player, especially with the puck.
Scouting Report
Offensively, Håkansson showcased the ability to be a primary puck distributor when playing against his peers – facilitating breakouts through strong first passes and managing the puck under pressure. He can quarterback a unit from the point as a distributor, even if he doesn’t produce a ton of points. Against men, he understandably focused on his defence, and I’d like to see him improve his shot, which is currently underwhelming.
Defensively, Håkansson uses his long stride and wingspan to compensate against faster opponents in the pro leagues, relying on his positioning to defend. He grades as an average skater, but importantly, not below-average in any one tool.
For a player of his size, you would hope to see a more intimidating physical presence that causes opponents concern when they are on the ice against him, but he has not yet developed that aspect of his game. How much more effective he could be if he grows in that area is a tantalizing question.
Final Thoughts
The Senators currently lack a bonafide top-four left-shot defenceman in their system, with players like Jorion Donovan, Matthew Andonovski, and Tomas Hamara moreso grading out as potential bottom-pair options at best.
Drafting Håkansson immediately corrects that, and he could become the successor to Chabot or Kleven should the Senators decide to move on from either of them in the future. I can see his toolkit working well with the undersized Spence or the more high-octane Yakemchuk – a calm, cool defender who can be steady.
Do any of these players interest you? Is there another defender you’d target with the 32nd overall pick? Let us know in the comments!