The Ottawa Senators wrapped up the two-day NHL draft with eight new prospects, selecting five forwards, two blueliners, and one goaltender. Chief scout Don Boyd and his staff expressed satisfaction with the haul, emphasizing skill, size, and competitiveness.
Draft Overview and Strategy
“We had certain people and certain players that we wanted to target, and we had a couple of opportunities to maybe move up, but chose not to because we felt we could maybe do the same thing in the third round,” said Boyd. “We got some skill, we’ve got some size and we’ve got some compete with this group. They’ll decide where they’re going to play at some point in time. It won’t be us.”
The Senators held eight selections in the draft, which began Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The team focused on adding offensive potential and physicality, with a mix of European and North American talent.
First-Round Picks
No. 25: Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW, Leksands IF (Sweden)
The Senators surprised some by selecting Hoen, who missed most of the 2025-26 season after surgery to repair a torn ACL. In just nine games, he recorded nine goals and seven assists for 16 points with 33 penalty minutes. Standing 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, he is considered a high-risk, high-reward pick.
“He’s a little bit like Filip Forsberg in one way. He’s got that ability to toe drag and shoot,” said Ottawa European scout Anders Ostberg. “He goes to the right areas to score. We all really liked him. He’s a goal scorer. He can really skate and he can score from everywhere.”
No. 32: Jaxon Cover, RW, London Knights (OHL)
Cover’s story is unique: he grew up in the Cayman Islands and only played roller hockey until five years ago. In 67 games with the London Knights, he tallied 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points with 49 penalty minutes. At 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, he offers offensive upside.
“It’s a great story, but we drafted him because we believe he’s got ability, skill level, and he’s going to have a chance to be an offensive guy,” said Boyd. “He plays in a good program, and we know he’s going to get good coaching. We know he’ll be managed well, held accountable for what he does and how he performs. That’s all part of the package.”
Third-Round Selection
No. 72: Adam Nemec, LW, Sudbury (OHL)
Nemec, the brother of former New Jersey Devils first-round pick Simon Nemec, played the first half of the season in Slovakia’s professional league before moving to North America after the IIHF World Junior Championship. In 31 games with Sudbury, he recorded 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points with 35 penalty minutes. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 180 pounds.
“He was playing in the men’s league in Slovakia, and like a lot of other young kids, they don’t get a lot of ice time,” said Boyd. “He felt in his draft year that he needed to get more ice time. He came here in January, and he fit right in.”
Overall Draft Class
The Senators’ eight picks included five forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie. The team did not have a second-round pick but made the most of their selections. Boyd expressed confidence that the new prospects will develop into NHL contributors, with the organization focusing on long-term potential.
