Latest news with #Vanek
Vancouver Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
A look at who the Ottawa Senators selected in the 2025 NHL draft
The Ottawa Senators have never shied away from National Hockey League bloodlines at the draft table. That was the case again on Saturday. The Senators used the No. 93 overall selection in the draft to take winger Blake Vanek, a Minnesota high school student who will play in the Western Hockey League next season. He is the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek, who suited up for more than 1,000 NHL games in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets. The younger Vanek, 17, couldn't hide his excitement after the Senators took him No. 93 overall in Round 3 on Saturday afternoon. Ottawa made a deal with Washington to move up to No. 93 from No. 96. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I'm totally pumped to be an Ottawa Senator,' Vanek said. 'It's a dream come true to be drafted in the NHL. I'm a bigger-framed guy, and I try to become a power forward as much as I can. 'I try to use my shot as much as I can as well.' Vanek was excited to get a text from captain Brady Tkachuk. 'I haven't responded yet, but I definitely will,' said Vanek, who didn't travel to Los Angeles for the draft and was in Wisconsin to attend a Morgan Wallen concert on Saturday night. 'There's kind of a lot going on tonight,' Vanek said with a smile. No kidding. This was a busy day for the Senators. The club followed up its first-round pick on Friday night with five more selections. Three forwards, a defenceman and two goaltenders. The Senators hadn't chosen a Russian player since 2005, and they took two in this draft, including a goaltender with their seventh-round selection. Don Boyd did a better job of hiding his excitement than Vanek after the lengthy day wrapped up, but the longtime club chief scout was pleased. 'It's always a good day,' Boyd said. 'The draft is over. A year of work goes down into the archives, and a way we go again. We managed to get two goaltenders, make a trade and get a player in Vanek that we wanted.' Ht: 6-foot-3 Wt: 198 lbs. Age: 18 2024-25: 32 GP 2 G 10 A 12 PTS 27 PIMS NOTEABLES: The Senators moved back a couple of picks to get Hensler from No. 21, but picked up an asset that was used on Saturday as part of the deal for defenceman Jordan Spence with Los Angeles. 'He's an impressive kid,' said Ottawa scout Dan Boeser. 'He's still young. He stepped into college hockey, and he was asked to play big minutes, and I thought he handled that extremely well. 'We're excited about the upside. He's going to take on an even bigger role next year. He's a tremendous kid who is well-liked by his teammates.' Ht: 6-foot-3 Wt: 205 lbs. Age: 17 2024-25: 9 GP 4 G 1 A 5 PTS 17 PIMS NOTEABLES: Vanek is headed to the Western Hockey League with Wenatchee next season, and then plans to switch to the NCAA. 'There is a lot of runway with him,' Boeser said. 'He comes from a hockey family with his dad. That's a piece that we like. He's been around the game, he knows the game, and he's a big body that still has a lot of room in that frame. 'He made a deep run in the Minnesota high school. tournament, which is a really important experience for those kids in that area, and then dipped his toes into the USHL junior level. He was impressive. It's not easy to step into that league, especially at the end of the year.' Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 182 lbs. Age: 17 2024-25: 52 GP 31-18-2 2.65 GAA .914 SV% NOTEABLES: He was rated to go higher by TSN's director of scouting, Craig Button, but the Senators were pleased to get Beckman. 'He was a 17-year-old who took over the team, and carried it for 52 games,' Boyd said. 'That doesn't happen a lot of times with a young goaltender. His numbers were significant. We had a list of goaltenders and it all fell into place.' Ht: 5-foot-9 Wt: 148 lbs. Age: 18 2024-25 stats: 44 GP 22 G 23 A 45 PTS 30 PIMS NOTEABLES: The first player from Russia the club has taken since 2005. 'We did a lot of work on film,' Boyd said. 'He's a smaller player, but this kid is competitive, skilled, and he makes the play. We think there is more there, and there is a chance for him to be a player.' The club has met with Isdayev through an interpreter. Ht: 6-foot Wt: 195 lbs. Age: 19 2024-25 Stats: 36 GP 22 G 22 A 44 PTS 20 PIMS NOTEABLES: He is the first Croatian player ever selected in the NHL draft. 'He's taken an interesting path. That, in itself, says a lot,' said Boeser. 'He comes from a hard-working family, and they all work at the same store they own. You see that work ethic when he plays. He's got a motor and he's got energy. He's a goal scorer.' 2024-25 Stats: 26 GP 13-7-2 2.10 GAA .929 SV% Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 187 lbs. Age: 18 NOTEABLES: Goalie coach Justin Peters and goaltending scout Zac Bierk pushed for the Senators to make this pick, and GM Steve Staios stated 'they won'. 'He put up tremendous numbers, and they're really good. We had some contacts there, and he came highly recommended,' said Boyd. bgarrioch@
Calgary Herald
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
A look at who the Ottawa Senators selected in the 2025 NHL draft
Article content The Ottawa Senators have never shied away from National Hockey League bloodlines at the draft table. Article content That was the case again on Saturday. Article content The Senators used the No. 93 overall selection in the draft to take winger Blake Vanek, a Minnesota high school student who will play in the Western Hockey League next season. Article content He is the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek, who suited up for more than 1,000 NHL games in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Article content The younger Vanek, 17, couldn't hide his excitement after the Senators took him No. 93 overall in Round 3 on Saturday afternoon. Ottawa made a deal with Washington to move up to No. 93 from No. 96. Article content Article content 'I'm totally pumped to be an Ottawa Senator,' Vanek said. 'It's a dream come true to be drafted in the NHL. I'm a bigger-framed guy, and I try to become a power forward as much as I can. Article content 'I try to use my shot as much as I can as well.' Article content Vanek was excited to get a text from captain Brady Tkachuk. Article content 'I haven't responded yet, but I definitely will,' said Vanek, who didn't travel to Los Angeles for the draft and was in Wisconsin to attend a Morgan Wallen concert on Saturday night. Article content 'There's kind of a lot going on tonight,' Vanek said with a smile. Article content No kidding. This was a busy day for the Senators. The club followed up its first-round pick on Friday night with five more selections. Three forwards, a defenceman and two goaltenders. Article content Article content The Senators hadn't chosen a Russian player since 2005, and they took two in this draft, including a goaltender with their seventh-round selection. Article content Don Boyd did a better job of hiding his excitement than Vanek after the lengthy day wrapped up, but the longtime club chief scout was pleased. Article content 'It's always a good day,' Boyd said. 'The draft is over. A year of work goes down into the archives, and a way we go again. We managed to get two goaltenders, make a trade and get a player in Vanek that we wanted.'
Ottawa Citizen
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
A look at who the Ottawa Senators selected in the 2025 NHL Draft
Article content The Ottawa Senators have never shied away from National Hockey League bloodlines at the draft table. Article content That was the case again on Saturday. Article content The Senators used the No. 93 overall selection in the draft to take winger Blake Vanek, a Minnesota high school student who will play in the Western Hockey League next season. Article content He is the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek, who suited up for more than 1,000 NHL games in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Article content Article content The younger Vanek, 17, couldn't hide his excitement after the Senators took him No. 93 overall in Round 3 on Saturday afternoon. Ottawa made a deal with Washington to move up to No. 93 from No. 96. Article content Article content 'I'm totally pumped to be an Ottawa Senator,' Vanek said. 'It's a dream come true to be drafted in the NHL. I'm a bigger-framed guy, and I try to become a power forward as much as I can. 'I haven't responded yet, but I definitely will,' said Vanek, who didn't travel to Los Angeles for the draft and was in Wisconsin to attend a Morgan Wallen concert on Saturday night. Article content 'There's kind of a lot going on tonight,' Vanek said with a smile. Article content No kidding. This was a busy day for the Senators. The club followed up its first-round pick on Friday night with five more selections. Three forwards, a defenceman and two goaltenders. Article content Article content The Senators hadn't chosen a Russian player since 2005, and they took two in this draft, including a goaltender with their seventh-round selection. Article content Don Boyd did a better job of hiding his excitement than Vanek after the lengthy day wrapped up, but the longtime club chief scout was pleased. Article content 'It's always a good day,' Boyd said. 'The draft is over. A year of work goes down into the archives, and a way we go again. We managed to get two goaltenders, make a trade and get a player in Vanek that we wanted.'
