Patience Will Pay-Off For Senators' Prospects

Over the past couple seasons the Ottawa Senators have done a adequate job of restocking their minor league system. Unfortunately their AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators have not been competitive in the past few seasons. They still managed to finish with a 34-32-9-5 record but only recorded an average of 2.81 goals-per-game.

Last season on the B-Sens only three players hit the 50-point plateau, one of them who is a mainstay AHL veteran (Denis Hamel). Some of the other Senators' prospects are playing in other leagues as well, and have been enjoying individual success en route to someday becoming an NHL player.

With players like Nick Foligno, Brian Lee and Cody Bass working their way onto the roster last season there are still a few other names that will be able to help the Senators in the future. Many people would suggest to make trades to bring in players now but it looks as if Sens' management is happy with who they have drafted and will continue to keep them in the fold for years to come.

Here's a list of the top 5 prospects that will be vital to the future of the Ottawa Senators:

5. Jim O'Brien

O'Brien was the Sens' first round pick (29th overall) in the 2007 Entry Draft. In his draft year playing at the University of Minnesota he tallied 7 goals and 8 assists in 40 games with the Golden Gophers.

Prior to the 2007-08 season O'Brien made the jump to major junior hockey and suited up for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. In 70 games with the T-Birds he finished fourth on the team with 55 points, including 21 goals. He also contributed to their playoff push as he picked up 8 points in Seattle's 12 post-season games.

O'Brien missed the Sens' 2007 rookie conditioning camp with a lingering shoulder injury. He suffered the injury playing for the Gophers and has been an issue ever since. All signs are showing that he is healthy and does not have any shoulder problems anymore.

He stands at 6'2" and weighs 184 pounds. He is a player that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty but will need to fill out the rest of his frame in order to be an effective player in the NHL.

4. Alexander Nikulin

In Binghamton this past season Nikulin registered 50 points—including 36 assists which were good enough for second on the team. Before coming to North America he spent three seasons with CSKA Moscow where he had 43 points in 100 combined games.

Ottawa drafted Nikulin with their fourth-round selection in 2004. He has been touted as one of the Senators' best prospects and will be competing for a spot on the fourth line in training camp. In all likeliness Nikulin will be sent back to Binghamton where he could be in for a break-out sophomore season.

Nikulin's biggest need will be to adapt to playing a North American-style game. He can pass very well and is responsible defensively but will need to work on being a more physical player. In the future Nikulin could possibly be centering the Senators third line.

3. Jesse Winchester

The Long Sault native spent four years with Colgate University and was an un-drafted free-agent. GM Bryan Murray brought Winchester into the fold late last season signing him to a one-year contract. Once his season at Colgate was complete, Winchester dressed for one game with the Sens recording no points and two penalty minutes.

Other than his rookie season with Colgate Winchester recorded 110 points in 114 games during the last three campaigns. He has size and strength and has the characteristics of a two-way forward.

Whether coach Craig Hartsburg places him at his natural position (centre) or off on right-wing there's a good chance that he could be seeing a lot of time in Ottawa next year on the fourth line.

2. Erik Karlsson

The much-anticipated debut for Karlsson will have to wait. Karlsson was drafted 15th overall in June at the 2008 Entry Draft held in Ottawa. While he brings much offensive upside, he is only a mere 165 pounds.

With that being said that is not a knock on his defensive game. At the 2008 IIHF World U-18 Championships he lead the tournament with a plus-8 rating. He was also named to the tournament all-star team while recording seven assists in six games—a total that led Team Sweden as well.

Karlsson skated in 37 games with Frolunda in the J20 league recording 13 goals and 37 points. At the end of the season he was recalled by the big club and finished the season in the Swedish Elite League. In 13 combined games he scored one goal as he played on the third defense-pairing for most of his time.

Drafting Karlsson will turn out to be a stellar move as he was arguably the best offensive-defenseman available at the draft. If anything will prove to be a downfall to his game it will be his stature. He isn't likely to ascend above 5'10" but will have to spent hours in the gym to fill in his frame.

In the future he will be the team's offensive specialist. Playing the next couple of seasons in Binghamton would be wise to help him adapt to the North American game. He can skate like the wind and will prove to be a mainstay on the Sens' blueline for many years to come.

1. Brian Elliott

This young goalie could quite possibly be the key to the Senators' future. Elliott, 23, was drafted with the second-last pick in 2003 (9/291). To put things in perspective, there isn't even a ninth round anymore thanks to the new CBA.

Elliott shared the season in Binghamton with Jeff Glass. Although Glass played in two more games it's noteable to mention that Elliott spent the first quarter of the season in Ottawa backing up Martin Gerber. During that team he appeared in one game with the Senators surrendering a goal to Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and making 28 saves.

His progression to the NHL level might have to take a year or two but it will pay dividends for the team. The only other goaltender in club history to be raised right through the team's system to the big team was Ray Emery.

Don't be surprised to see Elliott in an Ottawa uniform on multiple occasions this year as it is expected he will receive playing time to work him into the NHL. Current starter Martin Gerber's contract expires at the end of the season.

He is a big kid who takes up a lot of net and has the potential to someday be a number one goalie in the NHL. The Senators hope that it will work out to that scenario as they have never actually played with a No. 1 goaltender for a lengthy stretch. The team's downfall could turn out to be their backbone if Elliott can keep improving his play in the minors and work his way to the top.