No matter where a team picks in the NHL Draft each year, the results are often unpredictable. While picking early improves the odds of landing a future star, there are no guarantees, as Ottawa Senators fans know all too well.<\/p>\n
That said, Ottawa has fared quite well when selecting near the top, especially in recent years. Here\u2019s a look at nine key Senators players picked in the top five overall in the draft, perfect for offseason reading.<\/p>\n
1. Brady Tkachuk \u2013 4th overall, 2018
\nTkachuk, the current captain and emotional leader, embodies the kind of player Ottawa hoped for. With 404 points over 512 games and a physical, hard-hitting style, he\u2019s both productive and thrilling to watch. His leadership on and off the ice is a huge asset, and while it\u2019s hard to fully explain his impact without mentioning his role in rallying teammates, he\u2019s deeply respected.
\nVerdict: A fan favorite still in his prime, solid foundational player.<\/p>\n
2. Tim St\u00fctzle \u2013 3rd overall, 2020
\nAt just 23, St\u00fctzle is among the NHL\u2019s most exciting young talents and arguably the best player from his draft class. Hailing from Germany, he has tallied 326 points in 367 games and was recently recognized as NHL.com\u2019s top player under 25. Ottawa struck gold picking him third overall after missing out on Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re and Quinton Byfield.
\nVerdict: A rising superstar in the making.<\/p>\n
3. Jake Sanderson \u2013 5th overall, 2020
\nSelected shortly after St\u00fctzle, Sanderson rapidly emerged as one of the league\u2019s finest young defensemen. His 57-point breakout in 2024-25 highlights his growing offensive abilities complementing his strong two-way game, making future Norris Trophy chatter realistic.
\nVerdict: A top-tier defenseman on the rise.<\/p>\n
4. Jason Spezza \u2013 2nd overall, 2001
\nOne of Ottawa\u2019s most skilled and productive players, Spezza scored 995 points in 1,248 NHL games and was instrumental in the team\u2019s 2007 Stanley Cup run. After Daniel Alfredsson\u2019s departure, Spezza wore the \u201cC\u201d with distinction. His induction into the team\u2019s ring of honor seems inevitable.
\nVerdict: An elite playmaker and iconic franchise figure.<\/p>\n
5. Chris Phillips \u2013 1st overall, 1996
\nAlthough not a high scorer, Phillips was a consistent and loyal presence on Ottawa\u2019s blue line for nearly two decades. His 1,179 games remain a franchise record, and his jersey number hangs from the rafters at Canadian Tire Centre. His leadership and dependability define his legacy.
\nVerdict: A true homegrown hero and team stalwart.<\/p>\n
6. Alexei Yashin \u2013 2nd overall, 1992
\nYashin was Ottawa\u2019s first real star and remains the only Senator nominated for the Hart Trophy. He scored 781 points in 850 games but had a complicated tenure marked by contract disputes and holdouts. Traded to the Islanders, the deal brought Ottawa draft picks that led to acquiring Zdeno Chara and Spezza, who became franchise cornerstones.
\nVerdict: Talented player with an even more impactful trade legacy.<\/p>\n
7. Radek Bonk \u2013 3rd overall, 1994
\nBonk was a reliable two-way center who enjoyed a long and respectable career. However, given the high expectations after his draft and strong IHL performance, his output of 50-70 points in the early 2000s felt underwhelming.
\nVerdict: Dependable contributor, but not quite the star Ottawa hoped for.<\/p>\n
8. Bryan Berard \u2013 1st overall, 1995
\nBerard never played for Ottawa. After refusing to return to juniors, he was traded to the New York Islanders, bringing back Wade Redden, who had a standout career with the Senators. Berard\u2019s promising career was cut short by severe eye injuries.
\nVerdict: The trade for Redden proved very valuable.<\/p>\n
9. Alexandre Daigle \u2013 1st overall, 1993
\nDaigle entered the league with sky-high expectations but struggled to translate his junior success into the professional ranks. While he had a decent career, he failed to live up to being the first overall pick and famously dismissed the impact of others drafted after him, including Hall of Famer Chris Pronger, who would have been a franchise cornerstone.
\nVerdict: A major draft disappointment despite initial hype.<\/p>\n
Overall, the Senators have generally done well with their top-five draft picks, and their recent success, including potential Stanley Cup contention, is largely thanks to the early draft selections in 2018 and 2020.<\/p>\n
Steve Warne
\nHockey News Ottawa
\nImage credit: Jerome Miron – Imagn Image<\/p>\n
Fan Take: This review of Ottawa\u2019s draft history highlights the unpredictability and excitement of the NHL Draft, showing how key selections can reshape a franchise\u2019s future. For hockey fans, it underscores the importance of scouting and player development in building a competitive team and sustaining long-term success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
No matter where a team picks in the NHL Draft each year, the results are often unpredictable. While picking early improves the odds of landing a future star, there are no guarantees, as Ottawa Senators fans know all too well. That said, Ottawa has fared quite well when selecting near the top, especially in recent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[730],"tags":[734],"class_list":{"0":"post-16586","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-nhl"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}