Friday, June 23, 2000

The good, bad and ???
Ottawa's mid-round draft record a little scratched
By DON BRENNAN -- Ottawa Sun

CALGARY -- The Senators have only been to three entry drafts where they weren't the owners of either the first, second or third pick overall.

And heading into tomorrow's proceedings at the Saddledome, they are hit and miss when it comes to finding blue chippers past the No. 10 spot in the opening round.

In 1997, they struck gold by selecting Marian Hossa with the No. 12 pick. So far, Hossa has proved to be just as good or better than the players (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Olli Jokinen, Roberto Luongo, Eric Brewer, Daniel Tkaczuk, Paul Mara,Sergei Samsonov, Nick Boynton, Brad Ferrence and Jason Ward) chosen before him.

But in 1998, it turns out the Sens wasted the No. 15 pick overall by taking Mathieu Chouinard.

Unimpressed with his play in the QMJHL last season, and figuring they had a better prospect in Simon Lajeunesse (taken in the second round last spring), the Senators didn't even bother signing the big goalie, who re-enters the draft tomorrow.

In hindsight, Ottawa are among the teams that would have been wiser to go for Calder Trophy winner Scott Gomez, last season's rookie of the year after New Jersey picked him No. 27 overall in the spring of '98.

Finally, there is Martin Havlat, who is thankfully starting to look more like a Hossa than a Chouinard.

Havlat is the skinny (6-foot-1, 178-lb.) kid the Senators picked 26th overall in Boston 12 months ago.

He was billed as a skill player -- scoring 28 goals and 23 assists in 31 games with his Czech junior team, but slumping to five points in 24 outings with Trinec of the elite league.

But last season, Havlat proved he can play with the big boys. In 46 games, he had 42 points (13 goals) playing against the best players in his country as an 18-year-old.

Scouts who've watched him, have liked what they've seen.

"He got a little stronger this year, although he still has a way to go," said Senators GM Marshall Johnston.

"He was already a really good skater, but now it looks like he's got some drive to him. He's got some bite ... he doesn't play on the perimeters, he's involved.

"That's going to help him when he makes the transition (to the NHL). I'm not sure if that's going to be a year from now or now, but we are optimistic about his future."

Havlat played both on the wings and at centre for the first time, and Johnston is pleased about the versatility aspect.

Havlat was also on the Czech national team at the world championships, one of the youngest players in the tournament. He saw plenty of ice time early on, but mostly held a spot on the bench in the final game as his team won the gold.

While Havlat was likely disappointed about not playing more, the experience he gained being there should prove to be invaluable.

Johnston has no intention of letting Havlat slip away like he did with Chouinard. Negotiations on a contract are currently in progress, and Johnston is hopeful the deal will be finalized soon.

THE UNKNOWN

But whether Havlat is ready to make the jump to the NHL is unknown.

"I don't want to say he has no chance of making our team next season ... he's coming to camp and he obviously wants to do well, just as we want him to do well," said Johnston.

"But in my experience over the years, it's better to let things happen and not to make them happen.

"We're talking about a future asset and frankly, we don't want to bugger it up. The easiest way to do that is to make a premature decision. Martin's got really good play-making skills and he's a really good skater, but he is still a boy."

So for those scoring at home, it appears as though the Senators are 2-1 in finding mid-to-late first round picks they like.

Picking No. 21 tomorrow, they will once again be tested on their homework.