Who Should Senators Pick in First Round of NHL Draft?

The Ottawa Senators went from one first-round pick to three overnight, thanks to shipping former captain and franchise player Brady Tkachuk to join his brother Matthew in Florida with the Panthers. 

The Senators were looking at the prospect of having no first-round picks before the NHL reinstated it on March 12, giving them the 32nd pick with conditions, one of which is a prohibition on any trade. 

Let’s get into who the Sens should select in the first round.

Ottawa Senators Mock Draft for First Round

The Senators’ Stanley Cup odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook decreased after confirmation of Tkachuk’s departure. 

As the Senators are in win-now territory, many analysts expect another monumental move from the organization before the draft. That would likely see the Sens trading one of the picks (No. 9 or No. 25) they received in the Tkachuk deal. 

Here’s how I’m predicting the Sens’ first round will shake down if they retain all three picks:

Who Will the Senators Draft With No. 9 Pick? 

After hearing the news of Tkachuk’s exodus from the nation’s capital, I’m going like for like, predicting the Sens will draft Ethan Belchetz at No. 9. 

He’s 6-foot-5 and has one of the best shots in the OHL. Belchetz, a left winger, was the OHL’s No. 1 draft pick in 2024-25.

He enjoyed a successful rookie campaign with the Windsor Spitfires, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists in 56 games. In 2025-26, Belchetz netted 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 games, raising his per-game output from 0.68 to 1.04. 

The two major concerns are his skating ability, which appears clunky and awkward, especially in the first few strides, and his recent injury history. 

Belchetz broke his left clavicle last season, preventing him from featuring in the postseason. He didn’t feature in the playoffs during his rookie season either due to another injury.

Any concern of whether he’s injury-prone hasn’t damaged his draft stock, as he’s ranked ninth among the North American skaters. Speaking of his skating, it’s an attribute that can be improved.

He’s good enough to go in the top 10. With the latest news out of Ottawa, it makes sense for the Sens to snap him up. 

Who Will the Senators Draft With No. 25 Pick? 

I have the Sens taking forwards with their other first-round selections, so it’s on to a defenceman with the No. 25 pick. 

William Håkansson is the 12th-ranked international skater, and he’s touted as one of the best shutdown blueliners in the draft. 

The left-shot blueliner is 6-foot-4, and despite being just 18 years old, he played most of the 2025-26 season at the professional level in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). 

Håkansson averaged 14 minutes, 20 seconds of ice time in helping Sweden win the gold medal at the 2026 World Juniors. 

Athletic and physical, Håkansson would fit in seamlessly with the Sens. 

Who Will the Senators Draft With No. 32 Pick? 

Niklas Aaram-Olsen is a skilled left winger with a solid upside. He’s excellent on the power play and enjoyed a prolific season in Sweden’s top junior league, scoring 1.4 points per game last season with Örebro. 

He scored 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 29 games, demonstrating his ability to produce consistently. 

Aaram-Olsen also made 16 appearances with the senior team in the SHL. 

While I don’t think he’ll be a mainstay on a first line in the NHL, he has the potential to be a solid top-six forward. 

Have the Senators Ever Had a First Overall Draft Pick?

The Senators have had the first overall pick three times. They last had the top draft pick in 2022, with which they selected Chris Phillips

They selected Bryan Berard in 1995 and Alexandre Daigle in 1993, the latter of whom is among the worst first overall draft picks in NHL history. 

When Is the 2026 NHL Draft? 

The 2026 NHL Draft takes place on June 26 and 27.