The Ottawa Senators' decision to not sign Oliver Johansson, a third-round pick from the 2021 NHL Draft, serves as a stark reminder of the overall struggles of that draft class for the organization. With Johansson's rights expiring on June 1st, 2025, the Senators have effectively lost another piece from what was already considered a weak and mismanaged draft.
Johansson, selected 74th overall, was viewed as a potential sleeper pick at the time. The Swedish forward possessed good size, a strong work ethic, and excellent skating ability. However, his development stagnated in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), and he never showed significant interest in making the jump to North America. While the decision to move on from Johansson might seem like a routine part of NHL team management, it highlights deeper issues with the Senators' scouting and drafting strategies in 2021.
The 2021 NHL Draft was held under unusual circumstances, with scouts facing limited opportunities to evaluate prospects due to cancellations and shortened schedules. Many considered the 2021 draft class to be weaker than previous years, creating a challenging environment for talent evaluation. Despite these difficulties, the Senators' performance in the draft has been heavily criticized.
Ottawa's first-round pick, Tyler Boucher (10th overall), has yet to play an NHL game and is considered by some to be one of the worst first-round picks in Senators' history. The selection of Boucher was seen as a significant reach, with many projecting him to be a second-round pick at best. Other picks from that draft, such as Zack Ostapchuk (Round 2, Pick 39) and Ben Roger (Round 2, Pick 49), were also considered overdrafted, further fueling criticism of the Senators' approach.
With Johansson no longer in the system, the Senators have very few prospects left from their 2021 draft class. This raises questions about the team's ability to identify and develop talent, especially in a draft that was already considered challenging. The Senators' 2021 draft has been described as "abysmal" and a clear example of how difficult it can be to properly evaluate talent and manage draft picks effectively. While every team misses on draft picks, the magnitude of misses from 2021 is particularly concerning for the Senators.
The Senators' 2021 draft strategy, which involved selecting players much higher than their consensus rankings, has been a point of contention. While the team's scouting department clearly had conviction in their choices, the lack of success from these picks has led to increased scrutiny. It remains to be seen whether any of the remaining prospects from the 2021 draft will develop into impactful NHL players, but the release of Oliver Johansson serves as a painful reminder of the challenges and disappointments associated with that draft class. The Senators and their fans can only hope that future drafts will yield more promising results.
