For the first time since moving from Binghamton, the Belleville Senators qualified for the second round of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Calder Cup Playoffs, defeating the Toronto Marlies three games to two. The win isn’t just big for the AHL franchise, which hadn’t won a single playoff game in six seasons, it’s also big for their parent club, which has not only one of the worst farm systems in the NHL but also finished near the bottom of the standings. Maybe, just maybe, the Ottawa Senators have some promising prospects who can make an impact at the NHL level.
There are a few players that fans have been watching all season already. Angus Crookshank had a fantastic 2023-24 season, finishing first in goals on the team and second in points, plus two goals in 13 NHL appearances, and he’ll be looked on to be a big part of Belleville’s playoff run. Tyler Kleven will also be front and center after the heavy-hitting defender snuck into nine NHL games this season. Both players are expected to factor into the Senators’ short-term plans and likely won’t be in the AHL for much longer.
But Belleville beat the Marlies with more than just a few stars; the victory was truly a committee effort, with several players stepping up and taking on bigger roles, especially with Roby Jarventie, Tyler Boucher, Dillon Heatherington, Jamieson Rees, and newcomer Tomas Hamara all out with injuries. Here are a few players who are starting to stand out and could be major factors in Belleville’s first playoff run.
Zack Ostapchuk
Zack Ostapchuk hasn’t had the easiest transition to the professional ranks. He scored his first goal in just his third AHL game, but by December, he had just three. Thankfully, things picked up after that; in December alone, he had five goals, and by the end of his first season in the AHL, he had 17 goals and 28 points in 69 games, placing eighth on the team in scoring and fourth in goals. His hot streak to end 2023-24 helped him get into seven NHL games with the Senators, and although he went pointless, he showed some promise as a depth forward, throwing 13 hits and playing upwards of 12 minutes a night.
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Although he has strong offensive instincts and a good shot, Ostapchuk isn’t going to lead any team in scoring. But he does make his team a lot tougher to play against, which is invaluable during any playoff run. Back in 2022-23, the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Winnipeg ICE sent…
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