The New Kids

Erik Brannstrom, acquired from Las Vegas as part of the trade that sent Mark Stone the other way, immediately becomes the organization's top prospect and a key part of future plans. An elite skater with exceptional vision, he's been called the best prospect this season by some outside the NHL.

February Stats (Chicago - AHL): 9GP - 4 Points (1G, 3A)

Erik Brannstrom had 4 points (1-3-4) in 9GP with AHL Chicago during the month of February, including an OT winner 🚨 #Brannwagon pic.twitter.com/CnsQCKwRIR



After spending two and a half seasons in Gatineau where he was the 2107 QMJHL MVP, Vitaly Abramov is experiencing a homecoming of sorts. Acquired from Columbus as part of the trade that sent Matt Duchene to Ohio, Abramov made an immediate impact by drawing a penalty just over a minute into his first game with Belleville.

February Stats (Cleveland/Belleville - AHL): 12GP - 6 Points (5G, 1A)

Acquired along with Abramov, Swedish forward Jonathan Davidsson is a skilled player who has shown he can be an effective penalty killer. Unfortunately, he suffered an upper-body injury on February 23 and sat out Djurgården's final game of the month.

February Stats (Djurgården - SHL): 12GP - 1 Point (1A)

Classroom Report

One of the top netminders in college hockey this season, Joey Daccord continued to roll during his breakout season at Arizona State. Riding a personal 5-game win streak, Daccord was unbeaten in all 4 of his February starts. He's got a 19-10-1 record on the season with 7 shutouts and a .931 save percentage, earning a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nomination.

February Stats (Arizona State - NCAA): 4-0-0, .931 SV%

Jumping from Junior A hockey to the NCAA as an 18-year-old, freshman defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker has landed firmly at the University of North Dakota. After a goal and assist this month, Bernard-Docker sits second in team scoring.

February Stats (UND - NCAA): 6GP - 2 Points (1G, 1A)

Another 2018 draft pick making strides this month is 7th rounder Jakov Novak. The center's 4 point month at Bentley University has him in second among freshman in team scoring.

February Stats (Bentley - NCAA): 8GP - 4 Points (1G, 3A)

Not to be outdone by Novak, sophomore forward Todd Burgess put up a 4 point month for RPI including his first career NCAA OT winner. After missing his entire freshman season due to injury, Burgess is starting to hit his stride this year.

February Stats (RPI - NCAA): 7GP - 4 Points (2G, 2A)

Headin' Out On The 401

Driving the bus down in Belleville, Marcus Hogberg hasn't lost in regulation since mid-January but he's been beaten twice in shootouts. In February, Hogberg won 8 of 10 starts, recorded his second career AHL shutout, and established a new personal high for wins in a season with 13.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 8-0-2, 1 SO, .919 SV%

Right up there with Hogberg's herculean month was Drake Batherson's offensive outbreak. Batherson notched 5 multi-point games, saw a 10-game point streak come to an end, and was named AHL player of the week for the period ending February 10. He was recalled by Ottawa on February 22.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 10 GP - 16 Points (9G, 7A)

February Stats (Ottawa - NHL): 2 GP - 0 Points

Often paired with Batherson, Logan Brown had the best stretch of his young pro career. Brown recorded 4 multi-point games, saw an 8-game point streak come to an end, and was recalled for the first time this season by Ottawa on February 22. He also missed 1 game due to injury.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 9 GP - 13 Points (3G, 10A)

February Stats (Ottawa - NHL): 2 GP - 0 Points

Filip Chlapik, Belleville's leading scoring last season, set a new AHL career high in goals with his 12th of the season and added 3 more before the month was over. Chlapik was recalled for the first time this season by Ottawa on February 22.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 10 GP - 8 Points (4G, 4A)

February Stats (Ottawa - NHL): 3 GP - 0 Points

Not to be outdone by Drake Batherson, Nick Paul was also named AHL player of the week, for the period ending February 24. Since being reassigned to Belleville from Ottawa on February 4, Paul has scored 3 game-winning goals and put up 6 multi-point games.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 10 GP - 14 Points (9G, 5A)

February Stats (Ottawa - NHL): 1 GP - 0 Points

Despite missing 3 games with a thigh contusion after a scary looking hit, Christian Wolanin provided plenty of offence from the back end with 6 points in 7 games. He was recalled by Ottawa on February 24.

February Stats (Belleville - AHL): 7 GP - 6 Points (1G, 5A)

February Stats (Ottawa - NHL): 2 GP - 0 Points

Across The Pond and Across Canada

Alex Formenton made his return to the lineup for OHL London after sustaining an injury with Team Canada ahead of the IIHF World Juniors. In 10 games he's put up 10 points, and the Knights currently sit at the top of the OHL's Western Conference - poised for a deep playoff run.

February Stats (London - OHL): 10GP - 10 Points (4G, 6A)

One of 2 Senators prospects in the WHL, Parker Kelly, hasn't slowed down since being a co-winner of the Jonathan Pitre Award for hardest-working player at #SensDevCamp. Kelly maintained his near point-per-game pace with 10 points in 11 games this month. Unfortunately, he was given a 3-game suspension for boarding on February 23 that he started serving on February 27.

February Stats (Prince Albert - WHL): 11GP - 10 Points (7G, 3A)

Finnish winger Markus Nurmi lit the lamp for the first time this season on a beautiful shorthanded goal. Nurmi averaged just over 17 minutes of ice time in February, a season high.February Stats (TPS - Liiga): 8GP - 2 Points (1G, 2A)

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles goaltender Kevin Mandolese continued his strong play since the start of the new year, posting a 3-2-1 record in February. He improves to 10-3-1 since the calendar turned to 2019.

February Stats (Cape Breton - QMJHL): 3-2-1, .897 SV%