After prioritizing high-upside forwards in the earlier rounds in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators have used their late-round picks on shutdown defencemen with size. Wrapping up their class at 183rd overall is Alexander Grunin, a 6’4 LHD from Russia.
Grunin played in the MHL – that’s the highest level of junior hockey in Russia – last season, and is the third player in two seasons to be selected from that league by the Sens, joining Dmitry Isayev (2025 5th) and Andrei Trofimov (2025 7th). He scored 15 points in 44 games with Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, adding only 18 PIMs and a +23 rating.
While he was left off most scouts’ lists, EliteProspects (their own rankings, not their consolidated rankings) had him at #82 – on top of the natural advantages that come with his frame, he’s stated to have a combination of explosiveness and agility, that allow him to effortlessly close gaps in the neutral zone.
As is the case with many Russians selected in the draft, Grunin is a long-term project, which is ideal given that players selected out of Russia have their signing rights held indefinitely by their NHL clubs.
Welcome to Ottawa, Alexander!
Alexander Grunin is selected 183rd by the Ottawa Senators.
One of the biggest wildcards of the draft, Grunin is a big, hyper-mobile defenceman who can absolutely kill plays and sometimes create things on his own. A very raw prospect, but one of the best in this group. My #8. pic.twitter.com/sz9C2rUBdV
— dylan griffing (@GriffingDylan) June 27, 2026