PITTSBURGH — Pierre Dorion has had a first-hand look at the future of the Ottawa Senators.
And, he’s been impressed.
Speaking in a telephone interview from the Czech Republic on Monday night where he’s been attending the world junior championship before heading back home Tuesday morning, the Senators general manager is buoyed by the play of Ottawa prospects Jacob Bernard-Docker (Canada), Shane Pinto (USA) and Lassi Thomson (Finland).
Dorion is accompanied at the tourney by assistant GM Peter MacTavish, chief scout Trent Mann along with scouts Don Boyd and George Fargher, as well as Mikko Ruutu and Anders Ostberg, who are both based in Europe. The club is also preparing for the NHL draft in June, but Dorion feels pretty good about the group Ottawa has in the tourney.
“We’re really happy about all three because all three play very important roles for their team,” Dorion said Monday night. “All three are medal contenders and having three guys — two of them first-rounders and an early second-rounder — having an impact really shows we’re headed in the right direction.
“These players are going to be an important part of our future success.”
Here’s a look at what Dorion had to say about each prospect individually:
ON LASSI THOMSON:
Selected No. 19 overall by the Senators in the draft, he is Finland’s captain at this tournament and Dorion has liked what he’s seen.
“He’s a highly competitive defenceman with skills that moves the puck well,” Dorion said. “He can be active offensively, competes defensively and he slides well along the blueline to get his shots through. He can activate the offence from the back end.
“He’s one of the players that has played the most minutes and he’s one of their leaders. He’ll be counted on strongly once they get to the medal round.”
Thomson played in Kelowna in the WHL last year but opted to go back to Finland this season and the expectation is he’ll be in North America next season.
“He suffered an injury but overall we’re happy with his progression,” Dorion said. “We’ve already signed him to a contract and we anticipate he’ll start his North American pro career next year.”
ON SHANE PINTO:
Nobody was sure what to expect from the North Dakota centre but he’s played a big role for Team USA at both ends of the ice.
Not only has he scored goals, he’s taken big draws and that’s good for his development.
Pinto has four goals and seven points in four games for the Americans.
“He’s probably been the most pleasant surprise … he’s really taken on a front-line role for the U.S. team,” said Dorion. “First and foremost, he wins almost every draw he takes which is beneficial when you play on the power play and you get that extra time in your own end.
“The way he competes, he’s highly competitive guy, he gets on every puck and he tries to be on the puck whether it’s offensively or defensively, he supports the play. He’a a complete player but at the same time he can really shoot the puck, but he’s also a great bumper on the power play because of his ability to get pucks to the net.”
A second-round pick in 2019, Dorion gives credit to the scouting staff for insisting they take Pinto, who has eight goals and 14 points in 17 games with North Dakota.
“We had offers on the table for the No. 32 pick last year and the scouts were adamant that this was the guy they wanted,” Dorion added. “He’s a big part of the future. Whether it’s in a second or third line role for us, we know that he’s going to be a player that’s going to help us down road.
“You can’t play the game as well as he does — with and without the puck — and not be a contributing factor and helping your team win. There’s a reason North Dakota is so good and he’s one of the reason they’re ranked No. 1 in the country.”
ON JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER:
A teammate of Pinto’s at North Dakota — and another reason they’re a top-ranked team — Bernard-Docker is being asked to play a shutdown role by Team Canada and the sense he’s a got a strong NHL career ahead of him.
“He’s a great skating defenceman who’s been logging important minutes for Canada, but he’s someone who’s going to be able to log important minutes for us,” Dorion said. “He really moves the puck well, he’s a got a great first pass, he plays with urgency, I really like the way he defends and he takes away the ice for the opponent.
“I don’t think Jacob Bernard-Docker will be a flashy offensive player but he’ll be someone that will also help us win just by the minutes he’s going to play. He will definitely help us from preventing pucks from getting in our own net.”
There’s nothing wrong with a solid defenceman.
“He can help prevent the other team from scoring and with Team Canada they use him a matchup role. A lot of times those guys get important minutes and they’re key in helping you win,” said Dorion.
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