Ottawa’s pipeline has been highly ranked for years, but with Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson no longer qualifying as U23 players, the situation has shifted drastically. The Senators have a couple of legit prospects, led by Carter Yakemchuk, but after them, it falls off quite dramatically.
2024 ranking: 5
2025 NHL Draft grade: C+
Player Ranking
1. Carter Yakemchuk, D
September 29, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 7 in 2024
Tier: Top of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Yakemchuk’s play was up and down this season, but overall, he was still one of the better defensemen in the WHL. He’s a 6-3 right-shot defenseman with a very high skill level. He’s an attack-first type of defenseman who uses his great skill and good enough mobility to constantly break down opponents. His skating stride isn’t technically perfect, and it can break down, but it’s powerful. Yakemchuk has a bullet shot from the point and will be a one-timer threat in the NHL. He’s more of a shot than a pass threat, and while he can see the ice well and makes tough plays, his vision isn’t at the same level as his shot or stickhandling. He can make stops due to his feet, length and strong physicality, but his defensive play is a concern. Yakemchuk should have been a far more reliable junior defender this season than he was, but between trying to score and giving half-efforts in his own end, he has a lot of details to clean up. He has major pro potential, with the ability to be a top pair/top PP type, but I can see him frustrating coaches along the way.
2. Logan Hensler, D
October 14, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 196 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 23 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Analysis: Hensler didn’t have a huge draft season, but he was still a top-four defenseman for Wisconsin and held his own at the World Juniors for Team USA. He’s a 6-foot-2, mobile right-shot with strong offensive skills and playmaking ability. At his best, his offensive touch can stand out, and I’ve seen him break games open. That player has shown up inconsistently over the years, though. His defending is OK. His length and feet will allow him to make stops and retrieve effectively in the NHL, but he’s not a super-hard-to-play-against type. Hensler doesn’t stand out at any one thing, but he does enough things well that he should be a solid NHL defenseman.
3. Jorian Donovan, D
April 5, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 201 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 136 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Donovan was OK as a rookie pro, but the tools he has remain quite intriguing. He’s a clear NHL-caliber skater. He has a powerful, fluid stride that easily picks up speed. Donovan isn’t that physical, but he closes on checks well and can retrieve pucks like a pro. He displays good enough offensive skills, although I don’t think he sees the ice that well and plays with his head down. His brain will concern coaches, but his feet could make him a useful depth defenseman.
Has a chance to play*
Gabriel Eliasson’s puck play is quite limited, but he’s huge, skates well for his size and is highly physical, so there’s a path for him to play a third-pair role.
Lucas Beckman, G
August 23, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 97 in 2025
Tyler Boucher, RW
January 16, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 216 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 10 in 2021
Xavier Bourgault, RW
October 22, 2002 | 5-foot-11 | 179 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 22 in 2021
Gabriel Eliasson, D
September 9, 2006 | 6-foot-7 | 220 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 39 in 2024
Lucas Ellinas, C
March 12, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 104 in 2024
Tomas Hamara, D
March 9, 2004 | 6-feet | 192 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 87 in 2022
Blake Montgomery, LW
May 4, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 117 in 2024
Hoyt Stanley, D
February 4, 2005 | 6-foot-3 | 201 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 108 in 2023
* Listed in alphabetical order
Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Vincent Ethier / Getty Images)