As the Ottawa Senators preseason winds down the roster is naturally beginning to take shape. Some players will make the team largely as a result of their contract status, or that of others. Yet there are some prospects or guys that have yet to prove themselves, trying to do just that and prove they are NHL regulars. Here we will break down the forwards contending for those bottom six roles with the club, as the top two lines are decided, and one surprise defenceman.
A Top Prospect from the Ottawa Senators Preseason Roster Roby Jarventie
The first name that jumps off the list for the remaining Ottawa Senators preseason roster is number 52, Roby Jarventie. He has been a steady presence for Ottawa thus far. Despite a knee injury limiting him to 40 games with Belleville last year, his play was and has continued to be consistent. The Finnish left-winger would love to make his mark in Ottawa in 2023-24.
“I try to play a responsible game both ways and try to get pucks in, I want to forecheck. Of course it’s easy when you have a guy like Drake on your line who can make plays.”
Roby Jarventie evaluates his game tonight pic.twitter.com/UY1pDcWnRE
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 1, 2023
Watching him this preseason, he seems to elevate his game to the level of his linemates. Which yes, is a positive. However, given the Sens current roster composition, it might not be that beneficial. Once the regular season kicks off, it’s unlikely he will get much ice time with the likes of Drake Batherson. A player he has shown some chemistry with early this fall. So, it does appear the space availability on the current roster will not allow him to make the team out of camp. If Jarventie can show he can be a consistent point producer with Belleville, look for him to garner an early call-up. It seems like a lot of ‘ifs’ but if he can get on a streak with Ottawa, he might then stick.
The Third Line Czech: Smejkal
From one pleasant surprise to perhaps an even more pleasant surprise, Jiri Smejkal. It seemed a foregone conclusion coming into camp that Smejkal would find himself in Belleville to start the campaign. At this point though, we must say that he has played well. At 6’4” and 223 lbs, he looks like a professional, and why not having played seven career professional hockey seasons? Last year he put up 43 points in 49 games in the Swedish top division, SHL. The year before, he was just over a PPG player in the Finnish Liiga.
Watching him play, he has solid puck skills in traffic. Additionally, he does not mind chasing down pucks. It is possible he could develop chemistry with a similar hard-nosed player. Ironically, they would both fit as third-liners and country-mates to boot. The other player is two-time NHL 20-goal man, Dominik Kubalik. It seems like it could have the makings of a beautiful third-line scoring punch combination. Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, as Smejkal does have to make the club.
The Ottawa Senators Preseason Roster Depth Leader Ridly Greig
The next player to discuss for the Ottawa Senators preseason roster is Ridly Greig. Well, what can we say, Ridly Greig is just being Ridly Greig. Like in the last game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he can jump into a second-line centre role and look just fine. He even scored what would be the eventual game-winner in the 3 – 0 victory. And yes, make no mistake, both teams had a lot of regulars in the lineup. This was a homecoming for the Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby, and both teams came to play in the showdown in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Even if the space is not there, Greig deserves a spot on the NHL roster. For Sens fans just imagine the scoring potential he could bring from a third-line role.
The Surprise Defenceman
The last player to touch on for the Ottawa Senators preseason roster is a defenceman, Max Guenette. Guenette does not seek attention, but you can’t help but notice him. For starters, he is still on the roster, one of only seven defencemen that remains. He plays the game the right way and does not like to lose puck battles in his own zone. Furthermore, the 22-year-old has progressed his all-around game quite well. In 2022-23, he tallied 40 points in 72 games for the Belleville Senators. Interestingly enough, his career high in juniors was only 40 points.
There you have the key standouts for the Ottawa Senators preseason roster. These are the players who are still not guaranteed spots on opening night in Ottawa but are the frontrunners. As a note, a player like Zack Ostapchuk still has loads of potential. It just appears from his game, a year of professional seasoning in Belleville will be extremely beneficial. Moreover, with the Shane Pinto contract situation still up in the air, there is still that one additional roster spot available. Other than that, it is yet to be determined if more veteran pieces like Josh Bailey, Zack MacEwen, or Parker Kelly get a spot. Or if the last few spots will go to the up-and-comers like Smejkal, Jarventie, or Greig.
Main photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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