QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — The Ottawa Senators went into the draft in Montreal this past weekend with the intention of drafting forwards due to the fact that the team thinks they already have some good prospects on defense and feel confident that they will see a few of them in the NHL in near future. However, seeing how the draft went and the possibility of add another big defenseman at 6’ 5″ 220 pounds was too much to let him goes by and selected another defenseman with their first round selection. By drafting the Spokane defenseman Jared Cowen, the organization seemed very confident that they add another blueliner who will patrol the Senators blueline and become a key player. Even if Cohen didn’t played much last year due to a knee injury and although he doesn’t have the greatest skill in the world, he has the potential to play an important role on Ottawa’s defensive unit in the near future. In their draft guide edition, the International Scouting Services describe Cowen as follows: He won’t be a flashy scoring d-man but will be a franchise cornerstone because of his intensity and character. Cowen was a former number one pick overall in Bantams and can also played a key role in last year Memorial Cup Championship with Spokane. He is big, mean and mobile. He has good puck skills and will dominate people physically. Some people in the hockey world think the Cowen could eventually play the same role as former Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara. Drafting a defenseman wasn’t the main focus when the organization came in Montreal they saw Toronto select the London Knights Nazem Kadri with the seventh overall selection from the Ontario Hockey League. When that happened, Ottawa can’t let the opportunity to add a defenseman like Cohen go. Overall Ottawa returned home Sunday night with nine new prospects. Five forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Beside their first round pick, the Senators went for Sweden right winger Jakob Silfverberg with their 39th selection. After changing their original intention to go for forwards with their first round selection, they opted for stockpiling forwards beginning with Silfverberg. With their 49th selection Ottawa went for 6’ 3″ 220 pound goaltender Robin Lehner, another Swedish player who played for the Frolunda Jr. Lehner was the top ranked netminder in Europe. He has a similar style of play such as New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lumdquist. Lehner’s father was the Rangers goaltending coach. Last year the Frolunda goaltender ended with a 3.05 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. With the 100th pick overall, Ottawa went for 5’ 10″ 170 pound Miami University product, defenseman Chris Wideman. His is a smallish defenseman with great mobility and ended his freshman year with no goals and 23 assists. He can move very well and make very a good first pass. With their 130th selection the Senators went for Drummondville center right winger Mike Hoffman. He played a key role for the Voltigeurs, ending the season with 52 goals last year. Could become important part of Ottawa power play if he graduates one day to the NHL. With the 146th pick they selected Cedar Rapids (USHL) left winger Jeff Costello. He is signed to play with Notre Dame University in the CCHA after scoring 24 goals with his high school team. Identified as an energy player who can play like a power forward. With the 160th selection Ottawa went for local product, a 6’ 2″ 225 pound left winger Corey Cowick from the Ottawa 67’s. He plays physical, likes to go in the corners and wins the battles along the boards, and he hits hard. Good potential for a third line and he won’t hurt the team if he is asked to play more minutes. The Senators ended their weekend making two other selections. With the 190th pick they selected the son of Snapple billionaire Nelson Peltz. Brad Peltz, a left winger who played for Avon Old Farms in the United high school League. He missed most of last season with a bacterial infection. The organization checked him out and was ok. He plays hard and will play for Yale University next year. A trade with Edmonton Oilers gave to Ottawa the right to select 191st with their last pick of the 2009 entry draft and went for Lincoln High School defenseman Michael Sdao. The young defenseman will go to Princeton University next year. At 6’ 3″ 221 pounds he was one of the heavier players in high school hockey last year. Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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