2024 NHL MOCK DRAFT: OTTAWA SENATORS

The Ottawa Senators had another disastrous season in the 2023-24 season and missed the playoffs, but they will have the opportunity to collect several good prospects in this year’s draft. In the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, they have two 1st-round picks, one 2nd-round pick, and four 4th-round picks; Ottawa also has a 5th-round pick but they don’t have any picks afterwards. Ottawa has 3 picks in the first two rounds of the draft, and another 5 picks in the rest of the draft, for a total of 8 in the 2024 NHL Draft. Utah has the 7th overall pick in the draft.

Next: 2024 NHL Mock Draft: Utah

7. Berkly CATTON (C), 5’11/163, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Berkly Catton is an excellent center prospect who has had a phenomenal draft season, and it all began with a dominant performance in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup back in the Summer. Catton captained Team Canada to a gold medal finish, leading the tournament in goals (eight) and points (10) in just five games. He has carried that momentum into the WHL wonderfully this year, giving him a chance to hear his name very early on draft day. Catton excels in all facets of the game, with no glaring weaknesses whatsoever besides his lack of size. He is excellent on his edges which more than makes up for his average top speed, allowing him to blow by opponents with clever routes and pure agility. Catton is so slippery in fact that he draws a ton of penalties at the junior level, which he can often capitalize on as the motor that runs his team’s top power-play unit. He’s a great passer and his strong foundation of puck skill allows him to release passes from spots that most prospects can’t even imagine while still being in control. He makes a ton of tough plays look routine in traffic where defenders have to be ready for him to either deke through them or catch their attention for long enough to pass to an open teammate. He’s been excellent as a center despite his size so far, winning a ton of faceoffs and checking really consistently as a top-line pivot for the past two seasons. Catton works hard defensively and wins a ton of puck battles through timing and consistency rather than pure size or strength, he’s got a real chance to be a center in the NHL when all is said and done. This year, he has taken his scoring to a whole new level, with 113 points through 66 games. That is a points-per-game rate of 1.71, which is a higher scoring rate than Zach Benson played at in the 2022-23 season (1.63 PPG). Catton is currently fourth in WHL scoring and third in goal scoring. His ability to put up points this year despite the lack of support on his team is downright remarkable, with only three of his teammates projected to reach 50+ points. Berkly Catton is a near-lock as a top-10 pick this year, with room to rise if he has a good showing in the WHL playoffs, he’s a excellent center prospect. Berkly Catton will quickly become a go to player, if drafted to the Ottawa Senators, which they really need.

25. Aron KIVIHARJU (D), 5’10/165, HIFK (Liiga)

Aron Kiviharju is a Finnish defenseman who plays for HIFK in the Finnish Liiga. He has only played in seven games this season due to an injury (knee surgery) that had a timetable of four months of recovery. That has dropped Kiviharju in all draft rankings, as he was once considered the top prospect available for the 2024 draft. The first thing that stands out about Kiviharju is his skating. I wouldn’t call him a burner by any stretch, but he is a smooth and patient skater. He uses that skating to move the puck through the neutral zone in transition, something modern-day NHL defensemen need to have in their repertoire to succeed. Another thing that stands out about Kiviharju’s game is his passing. He can stretch the ice with breakout passes from the defensive zone, but he also uses his passing ability well in the offensive zone to help set up quality scoring chances. Part of that passing ability comes from Kiviharju’s smarts. Kiviharju is also a shifty and deceptive stickhandler, perhaps an underrated one at that. He will use his stickhandling when skating out of the defensive zone to pull oncoming forecheckers out of position, or he’ll use it to create space for himself in the offensive zone when there might not be much space available. The concerns with Kiviharju are injuries and size, as Kiviharju has battled with injuries off and on over the last couple of years. At 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, it’s questionable how effective he will be as a defender at the NHL level, but he makes up a lot of his weaknesses with his skating and excellent hockey sense. Kiviharju was a top 15 pick in the draft last year but due to injuries, he will likely fall out of the top 20, and will likely go off the board in the 20-30 range. If Kiviharju stays healthy, he has the potential to be a No.2 defenseman on a contender, which is why picking him at the end of the first round is an absolute no-brainer for an Ottawa Senators team that has two first-round picks.

49. Nikita ARTAMONOV (LW/RW), 5’11/187, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, one of the most complete forwards available will be Nikita Artamonov, who spent the last year playing against men in the KHL despite being 18 years old. In 53 games played, he posted a solid 23 points when you take into account the competition he was competing against, but more impressive was his ability to drive play for his line whenever he took the ice. While he may not have elite playmaking abilities, his skillset allows him to be a threat in the offensive and defensive zones, while his acute hockey IQ keeps him in the right place to make a play at all times. Also, while he is average-sized (5-foot-11), he understands how to use his strength to win puck battles in the corners or to chip in to help a teammate out when they make a mistake. Artamonov is a jack-of-all-trades forward who any team would love to add to their prospect pool. He may not set any scoring records, but his gameplan makes your team harder to play against when it matters most. There is so much value to this kind of player, even if it’s not the sexiest pick on draft night. If Artamonov were 6-foot-2, he would be a sure-fire top-15 pick given his skillset. However, general managers tend to draft big if they value players similarly to each other, so his size may be a slight turnoff whether that is fair or not. The Nizhnekamsk native has been one of the best three Russian forwards amongst his age group for the last couple of years. This year, however? He has taken a giant leap and is playing at a level in the KHL that very few draft eligibles ever achieve. 23 points in 54 games is preposterous, with Michkov, Tarasenko, and Panarin the only players in the KHL’s 15-year history to do better P/GP-wise. There is definitely a chance he becomes a dynamic top 6 talent who dominates on both ends of the ice if he is given the time to reach his full potential, if he falls to the second round, he could be a steal. Nikita Artamonov has two things working against him, one the Russian Factor and two, his size; these two factors will ultimately cause him to fall to the second round. The Ottawa Senators are getting a game-changer in the second round if they can snag Artamonov in the second round, which they desperately need.

104. Nicholas KEMPF (G), 6’2/190, US National U18 Team (NTDP)/USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

There is a wide range of opinions on where Nicholas Kempf ranks among prospects and goaltenders for this year’s draft. Some feel he is one of the best goaltenders in the class, while others are not so sure if he even belongs in the top ten of this year’s goaltending crop. Generally, they all agree that Kempf is a goaltender with a strong skillset but are bothered by some of his performances in the United States Hockey League (USHL) this season. The naysayers point to the fact that Kempf has only one of four USHL games in which he faced 30 shots or more, a somewhat subtle wink at saying that he is good because he plays on such a young and talented squad. However, it should be noted that this pertains to his draft ranking, not the overall consensus that Kempf is a goaltender with a ton of raw potential. Entering the last game of pool play in the 2024 U18 Worlds, Kempf had posted a .977 save percentage (SV%) and a .056 goals-against average (GAA) against Slovakia and two periods in net against Latvia. However, against Finland, he gave up three goals in two and a half periods, as he was relieved by Jack Parsons, and the United States was up 8-3 at that point in the game. A strong showing in the medal rounds would go a long way in improving his draft stock. You can see the raw potential. He’s been excellent in international competition, is very athletic, and is never caught watching the puck from the crease. Kempf never quits on a chance, and his quick reads allow him to make some huge stops. He could be better than the stats suggest. His technical soundness gives Kempf the potential to be a starting goalie in the NHL. His size and athleticism should not be overlooked, and with continued development, he could have a solid career in the NHL. It’s the most fickle position in hockey, and that probably will not change in our lifetime. Draft rankings would suggest he will be a mid-round selection, likely in the fourth round. It’s no secret that the Ottawa Senators need a goalie of the future, and drafting Nicholas Kempf here in the fourth round is a low-risk high-reward pick.

112. Nathan VILLENEUVE (C), 6’0/190, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Nathan Villeneuve showed that he is more than capable of playing whatever role is asked of him by his coaches. What has helped him do just that is his strong hockey IQ, and high motor and energy that he showcases at both ends of the ice, and the willingness to throw his weight around and become a physical force when he needs to as well. In the offensive zone, he uses both the strong shot he possesses and the playmaking abilities to help not only himself, but his teammates get chances on net. His strong play offensively as both a shooter and a strong passer was evident as he finished the regular season with 23 goals and 27 assists. Defensively, Villeneuve’s hockey IQ and vision are on display quite a bit. It has helped him better position himself in a spot to either break up plays in his own zone or eliminate any kind of chance that his opponent has before they can see it developing. This ended up helping him earn more ice time for the Wolves’ penalty kill as the season progressed and serves as a potential spot for him at some point in his professional career as well. One red flag that NHL teams may have on Villeneuve is the maturity level that he has shown this season. On the ice he has shown at times some maturity issues, getting involved in scrums and plays after the whistle a bit more than some would like. Off the ice, he did run into some problems with the Ontario Hockey League, being handed a 15-game suspension for violating the league’s social media policy. Villeneuve has the skillset and physical stature to end up being a middle-to-bottom six player in an NHL lineup at some point in his career. If he can work on his areas of improvement, he should be able to work his way into a middle-six guy. Becoming a special teams specialist on the penalty kill is surely within reach for him as well. The Ottawa Senators struggled on the PK last season, and adding a player like Nathan Villeneuve to their bottom 6 in the future could certainly help them in the future.

117. Aidan PARK (C/RW), 6’1/184, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (PHC)

Super-competitive forward, who can play center and wing, Aidan Park has a highly high-charged game and thinks every puck belongs to him. He plays with relentless pacing, and stick work, and his three-zone puck possession is elite. Park Consistently patrols through the middle of the ice as a true two-way player with relentless tenacity. At times his skating can appear choppy and full of short strides, but his quick feet fuel a high-energy cutting game that overwhelms defenders. He is a shifty effective distributor on the power play. A jack-of-all-trades player with a high ceiling and will contribute in all aspects of the game. Park dominated with Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep, scoring 30 goals, and 63 assists in 56 games in the USHS-prep league, as well as 10 goals and 16 points in the PHC league. Park also dominated at the US 18U Nationals, with 11 points in 6 games, and put up 3 goals and 4 points for the USA at the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Aidan Park has the potential to be a steal as a mid-round pick because of his all-around ability and versatility, this makes him extremely valuable to NHL teams. Ottawa Senators already have their centers set up for the future, but since Park can also play RW, he would be a perfect fit for the Senators.

128. Aatos KOIVU (C), 6’1/165, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Aatos Koivu is the son of former NHL forward Saku Koivu. He started the season with the U18 team at TPS but has played most of the 2023-24 season with the U20 team, and he’s earned a few call-ups to the Liiga. With the U18 team this season, Koivu scored nine goals and added 13 assists for 22 points through 20 games. With the U20 team, he scored 16 goals and added 15 assists for 31 points through 28 games. In the Liiga, Koivu went pointless in four games. His offensive production is very solid, and he has proven that with the numbers he has been able to put up this season. His biggest asset is his shot, which he will need to continue to utilize if he ever wants a chance at the NHL level. He has a lot to live up to with his family name, but he has proven himself worthy of being called upon on draft night. While he’s already had his first taste of professional hockey in the Liiga this season, Koivu will likely have a bigger opportunity when he returns in the 2024-25 season and looks to clean up the little areas of his game that need improving. He has to work on the physical side of his game since he doesn’t have much of a hitting style, but he possesses a solid shot and good skating ability which should help him get picked somewhere. Koivu is likely going to be a bottom-six forward if he gets to the NHL level, but he has the offensive upside of a middle-six forward. To be on the safe side though, I would predict he caps out as a third-line forward. Aatos Koivu isn’t projected to be a top offensive talent in the NHL, but he certainly can be a solid center, who plays a a 200-foot and has great hockey smarts. To get a center like Aatos Koivu at this point in the draft is an absolute steal, and the Senators could definitely make use of him.

136. Nate MISSEY (D), 6’3/210, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Nate Misskey is a shutdown defender who is best in his own zone. He plays a physical game and is excellent at clearing out the opposition from in front of his own goaltender. Serving as an Alternate Captain for the Victoria Royals of the WHL, Missey put up 34 points in 44 games, while playing in all situations. He is the ideal size for a modern NHL defenseman, and his offensive upside gives teams hope that he could be a future top 4 defenseman somewhere down the line. Ottawa Senators need to start improving their prospect pool on defense, and Missey will help further that along.

Draft Recap

A-

Berkly Catton (C)
Aron Kiviharju (D)
Nikita Artamonov (LW/RW)
Nicholas Kempf (G)
Nathan Villeneuve (C)
Aidan Park (C/RW)
Aatos Koivu (C)
Nate Missey (D)

Bet Now