The Ottawa Senators selected Swedish winger Jonas Lagerberg Hoen with the 25th overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday, opting to hold onto the pick acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade despite the player's recent ACL surgery.
Draft Day Decision
After trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for the No. 9 and No. 25 picks, a 2027 second-rounder, and a 2028 first-round pick, the Senators dealt the No. 9 pick to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund earlier in the week. President of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios chose to keep the No. 25 selection, using it on Lagerberg Hoen from Leksand IF Jr.
Lagerberg Hoen suffered a devastating knee injury that required ACL surgery earlier this season. The 6-foot-2, 178-pound winger scored nine goals and 16 points in nine games with Leksands IF under-20 team. He was ranked No. 19 among European skaters by Central Scouting and No. 45 by Sportlogiq.
Scouting Report
European scout Anders Ostberg, based in Sweden, praised the pick: "We really liked him. He's a goal-scorer. He can really skate, he can score from everywhere, and he's a competitive guy. We had great interviews with him; he was great in the gym, and he checks all the boxes."
Lagerberg Hoen is expected to play in the Swedish second league next season as he continues his recovery. The Senators believe his upside outweighs the injury risk.
Missed Opportunities
The Senators had hoped to use the No. 25 pick to acquire immediate help, but talks with the Anaheim Ducks regarding forward Mason McTavish fell through. McTavish was later dealt to the St. Louis Blues for the No. 15 and No. 29 picks. Other acquisitions this week included goalie Samuel Ersson from Toronto and winger Andre Burakovsky from Chicago, moves that did not excite fans.
The team still needs a top-six forward, but with defenseman Jordan Spence signed to a four-year deal, the blue line appears set. Day 2 of the draft and free agency on July 1 offer further opportunities to address roster needs.
