With the arrival of new prospects each year, Brown was no longer a young center in the organization’s depth chart.
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Say so much about Logan Brown’s career with the Ottawa Senators.
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At least it ended on a high note.
Just a couple of hours before the senators announced that Brown had been traded to the St. Louis Blues for Zach Sanford, he set up Lassi Thomson for the winning overtime goal in Saturday morning’s fight at the Canadian. Tire Center.
And that’s it, that’s it for Brown, the gifted offensive center who was selected 11th overall by the Senators in 2016.
It was five years ago on Sunday that he scored his first goal in the Senators colors, leaping into the air after hitting the net in an exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Halifax.
From there, however, all those high hopes gradually faded, and it ultimately ended with him scoring just one goal and eight assists in 30 regular-season games.
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While working to become a full-time player in the National Hockey League, Brown was at times a dominant player with Belleville in the American Hockey League, but was never able to skate past inconsistencies and a series of injuries. It was lapses in his defensive play that caused him to lose the confidence of head coaches Guy Boucher and DJ Smith.
Over time, the bitterness between the senators’ organization and Brown’s camp grew to the point where something had to give.
With the arrival of new prospects each year, Brown was no longer a young center in the organization’s depth chart.
Josh Norris, 22, had overlooked it, now locked in at the club’s number one central spot.
One of the big questions from training camp is whether 20-year-old Shane Pinto can secure a full-time spot, maybe even as high as center number two. Then there’s 19-year-old Ridly Greig, who may not be that far from starting her own NHL career.
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It’s always difficult to change a first-round pick.
Senators originally advanced on the 2016 draft to select Brown.
Looking back, general manager Pierre Dorion would certainly like a mulligan.
Dominant defender Charlie McAvoy was ranked 14th overall by the Boston Bruins and prominent Barça player Jakob Chyrchun, a close friend of Brown’s, was 16th against Arizona.
At the same time, however, no center chosen after Brown has yet to establish himself as a dominant NHL player.
Luke Kunin, who went to Minnesota, has scored 33 goals and 38 assists in 169 games. Sam Steel, a first-round player from Anaheim in 2016, has scored 18 goals and 27 assists in 129 games. In the second round, St. Louis took on Jordan Kyrou, who had a strong 2020-21 season and has 19 goals and 28 assists in 99 NHL games.
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The 2016 draft forward’s steal was undoubtedly Alex DeBrincat, who was 39th overall against the Chicago Blackhawks. DeBrincat has scored 119 goals and 110 assists in 286 games.
However, considering how unlikely it seemed that Brown would ever be part of the lineup puzzle for Smith, Dorion was right to win back a player who can go straight into the lineup.
The Senators needed more goals and more strength up front and Sanford has scored 26 goals in 110 games over the past two seasons.
The Blues are struggling with the cap, and removing Sanford’s $ 2 million cap (he signed that one-year contract in August) clears some space.
Where, exactly, the left winger will fit in will be a question for the remainder of training camp.
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If Brady Tkachuk re-signs with the Senators, he will be on the front line with Norris and Drake Batherson.
Tim Stuetzle is not likely to be kicked out of his left second row spot and Nick Paul has made a home for himself on that side as well. The speedy Alex Formenton, who finished the 2020-21 season, is also expected to kick the team out of training ground.
There will be some movement between the forward rows because there is more need on the right side.
When asked Saturday about Tyler Ennis, who will attend camp with a pro test offer, Smith said he probably fits better on the right side because the team is “a little light” on that flank.
Smith, speaking before Saturday’s trade was announced, also dismissed any idea that Colin White could be moved to the right wing. It will stay in the center.
Unfortunately for once-promising center Brown, time’s up to make an impact here.
Reference-ottawasun.com