It was a relatively quiet week for Sens prospects, with many player’s teams taking a break for the holiday season. The 2018 World Junior Championships are also right around the corner, with a handful of prospects earning the chance to represent their country in the world’s top junior tournament.

The Belleville Senators were back in action, finishing the week with a 1-2-0 record. Two of those games were played against the Binghamton Devils, the former host city to Ottawa’s AHL franchise. They’re the only team below Belleville in the North Division, so coming away from that series with a -3 goal differential isn’t the best sign for the team’s outlook.

Stats Sheet

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Biggest Standouts

Gabriel Gagné

Belleville’s leading goal scorer picked up three more this week, one in each game, bringing his total of twelve to nearly double second place. Also tied for the team lead in shots, Gagné has done a complete 180 from where he was last season, when he was struggling to pick up anything on the scoresheet.

Still only 21 years old, there’s no signs pointing to Gagné’s turnaround being a fluke. The Sens moved up to draft the 6’5” forward at the 2015 draft, and although there was some good talent left on the board, it appears the decision is beginning to pay off.

Gabriel Gagné with goals in back-to-back games



Gagné has 5 Points (3G, 2A) in his last 6GP, and leads Belleville with 11 Goals. pic.twitter.com/E6BITv9UPi — Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) December 16, 2017

Although the two forwards were out of action this week in the CHL, they were busy at the tryout camp for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, both fighting for roster spots as wingers on the fringe. Both survived the multiple rounds of cuts, and will represent Canada at the 2018 World Juniors!

It didn’t come without a bit of controversy, as top prospects Nick Suzuki (VGK) and Cody Glass (VGK) were cut ahead of them. Formenton in particular was a bit of an unpopular pick, considering he only scored 0.5 points per game last season, and just turned 18 a few months ago. He’ll be expected to play on Team Canada’s penalty kill, as well as unleashing his speed against his opponents.

Early line combos have Batherson on the third line next to Jonah Gadjovich (VAN) and Michael McLeod (NJD), with Formenton on the fourth line with Maxime Comtois (ANA) and Brett Howden (TBL). You can find Batherson’s reaction interview here, and one of Alex Formenton’s two exhibition goals below.

Alex Formenton's SHG in Canada's 4-3 exhibition loss today



Formenton and Drake Batherson both made it through the first round of cuts. pic.twitter.com/FEr943T9yx — Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) December 15, 2017

Silver Linings