Colin already updated you with the biggest prospect news of the week: we won’t be featuring Josh Norris in this space for the rest of the season. Although that injury has potentially big implications, such as when Norris will turn pro, it’s ironic that the biggest standouts this week are older prospects who are vying to present themselves as depth options to the Senators for this season or next.

Stats Sheet

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Biggest Standouts

Meet Belleville’s new leading scorer. Although Rodewald has had two four-game cups-of-coffee in the NHL with the Senators over the last two seasons, he’s an unfamiliar name without the caché of a Batherson, Brown, or Chlapik. However, the 24-year-old is producing his best AHL season yet, with 33 points in 34 games highlighting a massive jump from his previous season highs of 27 and 25 points — both in 60+ games.

Rodewald looked smart in his recent call-up with Ottawa, and is a gritty two-way winger with a decent goal scoring touch. A fan favourite of the organization’s development staff, Rodewald played a full season with the Orlando Solar Bears (TOR) in the ECHL after junior before finding his way to Binghamton on an AHL-ECHL contract. His age is something that could be framed as experience or pro-readiness, but is also a weakness when you compare where he’s at relative to his younger, more skilled peers. However, with the team potentially trading away some forwards at the deadline, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodewald as the organization’s first call-up to see what he can do with an extended NHL opportunity.

The new guy has been faring well in Belleville. Fresh off of saying that he expects to score more points in a more offensive role, Klimchuck had three goals in three games this week, and has showcased his presence in and around the opposition net.

Batherson (18, 19)

Klimchuk (8, 9)



Drake Batherson snapped a 9-game pointless drought with 2 assists in the 1st period on a couple Morgan Klmichuk goals. Klimchuk has 5 points (4-1-5) in 5GP since being acquired from Toronto for Gabriel Gagné. pic.twitter.com/t2SE609uGN — Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) January 19, 2019

Another older player at 23-years-old, Troy Mann sees Klimchuk as a “third line guy [on a really good AHL team] that can move up into your second line.” That likely means that he doesn’t have a future as an NHLer — which is likely what the Senators thought of Gabriel Gagné — but Klimchuk is another one of those players who could, in a tough spot, get a recall to play on one of Ottawa’s bottom two lines.

After seeing Kevin Mandolese being named QMJHL player of the week last week, the team’s other CHL goalie prospect, Jordan Hollett, had a big week to take back the crease in Medicine Hat. Three wins in three games with a great 0.921 save-percentage will help Hollett rebound, though we’re unsure of how long he’ll have an opportunity with his colleague, Mads Sogaard, sporting a 0.933 save-percentage over 19 starts.

Silver Linings

Until next week,