How acquired:\u00a0Selected with No. 7 pick in 2024 NHL Draft<\/p>\n
2025-26 season:\u00a0Belleville (AHL): 54 GP, 10-30-40; Ottawa (NHL): 4 GP, 1-1-2<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old (6-foot-3, 219 pounds) was told in the season-ending exit meetings to come to training camp poised to earn a job with the Senators after an impressive NHL debut last season, when he had two points in four regular season games and two assists in one game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes.<\/p>\n
His development is highlighted by an improvement in skating, which was evidenced by his 40-point output in the American Hockey League last season. On the other hand, his minus-31 total was second-worst in the league, although part of that was a reflection of the way the entire Belleville team struggled during the season.<\/p>\n
However, his ascension and improvement has been consistent, leaving him with a chance to be a regular with the Senators in 2026-27.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see the upside,\u201d director of player development Sam Gagner said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about his potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Projected NHL arrival:\u00a0This season<\/p>\n
How acquired:\u00a0Selected with the No. 23 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n
2025-26 season:\u00a0Wisconsin (NCAA): 23 GP, 4-8-12<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old (6-2, 192) had surgery March 5 to repair a torn ACL in his left knee and damage done due to a high sprain of his left ankle, the results of a gruesome incident against Minnesota in February after being awkwardly tied up while attempting to deliver a check.<\/p>\n
The upside: He began skating again last month and is expected to be back in Wisconsin\u2019s lineup come the fall.<\/p>\n
Up until the time of his injury, he\u2019d shown signs that he\u2019s becoming more confident in joining plays off the rush. Defensively he\u2019s shown a penchant for plugging up the middle of the ice and keeping opponents out on the edges.<\/p>\n
Expected NHL arrival:\u00a02027-28<\/p>\n
How acquired:\u00a0Traded by San Jose with F\u00a0William Eklund<\/a>\u00a0and F\u00a0Brandon Svoboda<\/a>\u00a0for a 1st-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 9), June 23, 2026.<\/p>\n 2025-26 season:\u00a0San Jose (AHL): 69 GP, 16-19-35<\/p>\n The 21-year-old (6-3, 215) has the potential to be an effective power forward in the NHL one day with his combination of influential size and lethal shot. He came over\u00a0from the San Jose Sharks in the deal<\/a>\u00a0that brought Eklund to Ottawa and is far more than just a throw-in in the deal, especially if he continues to develop.<\/p>\n Halttunen is a product of the London (Ontario Hockey League) organization where coach Dale Hunter and GM Mark Hunter have forged a well-earned reputation for preparing and developing prospects for the NHL. He showed a knack for producing at key moments in his two seasons (2023-2025) with the Knights, getting nine points (six goals, three assists) in nine games during London\u2019s back-to-back appearances in the Memorial Cup.<\/p>\n There are still defensive deficiencies to be ironed out but those are aspects he can work on in Belleville (AHL) where he\u2019s expected to start the season. Don\u2019t be surprised if he becomes a fixture on the power play there.<\/p>\n Expected NHL arrival:\u00a02027-28<\/p>\n How acquired:\u00a0Selected with the No. 32 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft<\/p>\n 2025-26 season:\u00a0London (OHL): 67 GP, 20-32-52<\/p>\n