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Ottawa Senators hotshot prospect Jaxon Cover certainly wowed the crowd at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau this past weekend. Cover was dominant for the Senators in a pair of Prospect Challenge games. Selected 32nd overall in this past June’s NHL Entry Draft, Cover opened with a three-point performance, including notching an overtime game-winner in the Senators’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday.
The OHL London Knight followed up, earning points on all four of his team’s goals, two goals and two assists in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens Sunday evening, but there were other solid outings too this past weekend, especially by a pair of Senators newcomers, Kasper Haltunnen and Eskild Bakke Olsen, who are vying to make a claim for future NHL roster spots.
Kasper Haltunnen
Acquired from the San Jose Sharks as part of the trade for William Eklund, Haltunnen arrived as advertised.
Known for his booming, heavy shot, Haltunnen opened the scoring for the Senators in each game. The 21-year-old’s blistering shot was on display all weekend. His first goal was a glove-side howitzer on the power play. Using his six-three, 203-pound frame, Haltunnen’s second marker was a power move wraparound.
While Haltunnen needs to work on his 200-foot game and that’s what development in American League Belleville will provide, there’s no questioning his ability to skate through opponents on the forecheck or be a consistent scoring threat in the offensive zone at even-strength or as a strong one-option with the man-advantage.
The native of Helsinki, Finland, registered 16 goals and 19 assists in 69 games for the AHL Barracuda in his rookie pro campaign as a 20-year-old last season. The previous two seasons, Haltunnen recorded an incredible 35 goals in only 31 playoff games with London en route to two OHL championships and a Memorial Cup victory.
Skating on the left side of Bakke Olsen and Cover on the Senators’ prospects’ power play, Haltunnen envisioned what may be in his future this season in Belleville, minus Cover.
“Yeah, I liked it. We were moving the puck well. I thought we had a lot of scoring chances and had a lot of opportunities for even more goals. We stepped up when needed, and obviously that last overtime there could have could scored. But yeah, it was a lot of fun, and I think there’s a lot of a lot of good guys coming up in Belleville for the power play,” said Haltunnen.
Belleville Senators head coach Andrew Campbell is looking to have Haltunnen in his PP arsenal. “He can shoot the puck. Yeah, that’s his kind of differentiating thing about him, right? He doesn’t need much time. He doesn’t need much space. A puck is on his stick and off his stick on his goal in a, you know, fraction of a second there. He had some other looks too, but he’s a dynamic player and can put the puck in the net from anywhere in the offensive zone.”
As for Haltunnen’s heavy shot, Bakke Olsen noted, “He’s got a bomb for sure, but I’m used to staying in front of a goalie, so it’s nothing I’m afraid of, but if it’s someone, it’s his.”
Eskild Bakke Olsen
At age 24, Bakke Olsen was the eldest Ottawa Senator participating this past weekend, notching a pair of goals, and more importantly playing in all situations.
An offseason free-agent signee after winning the IIHF World Championship Bronze for his native Norway after defeating Canada in overtime. Bakke Olsen was also named Norway’s Player of the Game in an earlier tournament game versus Canada.
His tourney performance at the WC (10 games, two goals, three assists) combined with a solid season playing for Linköping in the Sweden Hockey League (11 goals, 21 assists in 51 games) earned a one-year $910,000 entry-level deal with the Senators.
Bakke Olsen spoke exclusively to Hockey Hot Stove after Saturday’s pregame skate.
During his breakout season in Sweden, Bakke Olsen became aware that several NHL clubs were gaining interest. “I knew that several teams were a little bit interested, but mostly negotiations and stuff happened after Worlds and closer to the (European signing) deadline. So by the World Championship, they let me focus on the games and stuff. But I knew some teams were buzzing, but by the deadline it was more like negotiations and stuff.”
Arriving in Ottawa a week prior, Bakke Olsen took part in skates with current Senators players. Wanting to get re-acclimated with the smaller North American ice surface in advance of the Senators’ main training camp, “We got 50% small rinks back home in Norway, but it’s been a few years, so it’s going to be a difference, but I think it’s going to be fine. I think my playing style is going to fit on the smaller rink better, so that I’m looking forward to see.”
A two-way centre, Bakke Olsen is under the impression he’s in tough to crack the Senators roster out of camp, heading to Belleville won’t be the “end of the world for him.”
“I’m aware of the situation, and coming over here is a huge step for me personally, outside and on the ice. So I just come in here, be myself and show what I’m capable of, and then it’s for the coaches and staff to place me where they think I’m going to be. My main goal is, of course, like everyone else, to make the NHL team. But I know it’s tight, and maybe go to the AHL and adjust myself to the smaller ice. And that’s not, like you said, the “end of the world.” It’s a great league and a lot of good players there. It’s going to be a cool experience and an adventure for me.”
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