The Senators’ Prospect Challenge roster has a few names that jump off the page, but Jaxon Cover sits near the top of the list.
Selected 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, Cover will play in both games this weekend at Slush Puppie Centre - against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at 6 p.m. and the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday at 6 p.m. His path to this point has been anything but ordinary. He spent most of his early hockey years playing roller hockey in the Cayman Islands before moving to Canada and switching to ice hockey at 13, and that background has made his rise as intriguing as his talent.
London Knights general manager Mark Hunter told the Ottawa Citizen that Cover is still working through the basics and getting more comfortable using his edges on the ice, but added that “the upside is huge on this young man.”
Kasper Halttunen is another notable name on the roster. The physical right winger, known for his heavy shot, came over from the San Jose Sharks in the William Eklund trade. He’s viewed as a player who is still a year or two away from making the NHL, but he already showed plenty at the AHL level last season, putting up 35 points with the San Jose Barracuda on 16 goals and 19 assists.
The group also includes Bakke Olsen, who at 24 is one of the older players in the showcase. Olsen made some noise at the world hockey championship in May for Norway, helping knock off Canada 3-2 in overtime in the bronze-medal game. Ottawa signed him to a one-year, entry-level contract worth $910,000 the day after the Stanley Cup was awarded to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Then there’s Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, the Senators’ first pick from this past June and a player who drew plenty of attention Thursday morning. General manager Steve Staios said he was surprised Lagerberg Hoen was still there at No. 25, noting the Senators had him ranked No. 16 on their big board and believed the winger has “ home run potential.”
In Other News...
Senators Camp Suddenly Centers On One Huge Post Tkachuk Decision
Brady Tkachuks departure in June left a clear leadership hole for the Senators, and as training camp approaches, the conversation around Ottawa has shifted from what the roster lost to who will help steer it now. The club dealt Tkachuk to Florida for four draft picks, then tried to soften the blow by bringing in William Eklund from San Jose, all while keeping the larger goal intact: staying in the mix for a playoff spot despite the shakeup.
What makes camp so interesting is that Ottawa still has not named a new captain, which turns an ordinary early-season formality into one of the teams biggest storylines. The Senators have several natural directions they could go as they sort through their leadership structure, and the choice will say a lot about how the organization wants to define itself in the post-Tkachuk era. For a team trying to move forward without losing its edge, that decision carries more weight than a title alone. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Top-Six Search Now Comes Down To One Veterans Decision
The Senators search for a top-six winger has been circling the veteran market for some time, and Chris Kreider has suddenly become a name worth watching. The winger was placed on unconditional waivers for contract termination after the Ducks moved on from him for salary-cap reasons, opening the door to a new chapter for a player who can still help a contender add some finishing touch in the top half of its forward group.
Ottawa has been linked to interest in Kreider as it tries to shore up its scoring depth, but the fit is not entirely in the clubs hands. Even with a clear opening on the Senators roster, the bigger question is whether Kreider would want to land there, which leaves this as one of those July storylines where the teams need is obvious and the answer may still be out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Proven Top-Six Winger
Chris Kreider has suddenly become the kind of name Ottawa has to at least consider. After Anaheim put the veteran winger on unconditional waivers, the door opened on a player with a long track record as a top-six option, and the Senators are one of the clubs with enough cap room and roster flexibility to take a real look. For a team still trying to round out its forward group, a winger with size, experience and a history of producing in a scoring role is not the sort of opportunity that comes along very often.
The fit is easy to imagine in Ottawa because Kreiders game would give the Senators a different look up front, especially in a lineup that could use more proven depth on the wings. He has had stretches of strong play and, despite some recent unevenness, still profiles as the kind of veteran who can complement existing skill. The remaining question is whether Ottawa decides the on-paper fit is worth making the necessary space, because once a player like Kreider hits the market this quickly, the next move can come just as fast. [Read more 🡒]