3 Senators to Watch at the NHL Prospect Challenge

Before the Ottawa Senators open their training camp next week, the team will take to the ice this weekend at the annual NHL Prospect Challenge, which the Senators will host in Gatineau, Quebec on Sep 12 and 13. On Thursday, the team announced the 29 prospects that will face the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, including six of the eight players selected in the 2026 Draft.

One of the biggest changes ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season was the shorter preseason to make room for an 84-game regular season schedule. That also means a shorter training camp, which means less time for prospects to make an impression on the coaching staff. Every minute counts so much more this season, giving the four-team rookie tournament a bit more gravitas than in the past.

With that in mind, here are three prospects who could make big impacts this weekend.

Lucas Beckman

When the Cape Breton Eagles acquired Lucas Beckman from the Chicoutimi , Eagles’ general manager Sylvain Couturier was bullish on the Senators’ prospect, saying, “I think having the best goalie in the league, it’s a big statement that we’re serious about what we want to do next year and where we want to go.” (from “UPDATED: Cape Breton Eagles trade first-round pick, acquire three league champion players from Chicoutimi Saguenéens,” Cape Breton Post – 06/06/2026)

Couturier wasn’t exagerating. After the Senators selected Beckman in the fourth round of the 2025 Draft, he quickly established himself as one of the best young netminders in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) despite playing on one of the worst teams in the league. Although he had a 4-14-3 record, he had a .905 save percentage (SV%) and two shutouts heading into the second half of the season.

Then came the trade that sent Beckman to the Saguenéens, and with a much better team in front of him, he erupted. In the final 15 games of the season, he had a .940 SV%, a 1.52 goals against average (GAA), four shutouts, and just one loss. In the playoffs, he was just as dominant, leading all goalies with a 1.98 GAA over 16 games before taking home the QMJHL Championship.

Now, Beckman is entering the Prospect Challenge as the Senators’ top goalie prospect, and it will be interesting to see how much the team plays him. Although Ottawa named four goalies to their tournament roster, Beckman might be tough to take out of the crease. He’s, smart, quick, and has already caught the attention of Hockey Canada ahead of the 2027 World Juniors, so there’s little doubt that he’ll put on a show for the fans in Gatineau.

Kasper Halttunen

Although perceived as a minor part of the deal that brought William Eklund to the Senators, don’t underestimate Kasper Halttunen. He was projected to be a late first-round pick in 2023 before the San Jose Sharks scooped him up early in the second round. He then joined the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he showed off his excellent finishing ability; in 35 OHL playoff games, he put away an incredible 32 goals. No wonder the Knights won back-to-back championships.

Last season, Halttunen played his first full professional season and finished with 16 goals and 35 points in 69 games with the San Jose Barracuda, which ranked 13th among all U21 players in the American Hockey League (AHL) and fifth on his team in goals. Combined with his 6-foo4 frame and willingness to run over defenders, he’s going to be one of the most exciting players in Belleville this season.

Given his pro experience, Halttunen is a good bet to end up on one of the top lines at the Prospect Challenge, giving him an excellent opportunity to make a poignent first impression. He’ll likely start the season in the minors, but don’t expect him to stay there long. He’s already proven he’s a quick study.

Jonas Lagerberg Hoen

No one expected Jonas Lagerberg Hoen to be selected in the first round, but that didn’t dissuade the Senators, who grabbed him 25th overall. “We really liked him,” said Ottawa’s European scout, Anders Östberg, “He’s a goal-scorer. He can really skate, he can score from everywhere, and he’s a competitive guy. We had great interviews with him; he was great in the gym, and he checks all the boxes.”

The reason he was so controversial was that Lagerberg Hoen only played 11 games before a knee injury ended his season, and he hasn’t been on the ice since October last year. Although it appears he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery, he’s still not ready to join a full-contact game yet, so he sadly won’t be on the ice for the Prospect Challenge on Saturday against the Maple Leafs.

The good news is that Lagerberg Hoen is still slated to join the Senators camp and participate in practices, so for those in the Ottawa area, they’ll still get a peek at the team’s most recent first-round pick. Scouts raved about his shot and puck skills ahead of the draft, and his nine goals in nine games were on pace to handily lead Sweden’s U20 Nationell. He has also shown a strong work ethic and intelligence away from the puck, which should work well with the Senators’ other prospects.

Following training camp, Lagerberg Hoen is set to return to Sweden, where he’s eager to play for Leksand’s men’s team. But this first brief glimpse could influence how quickly the Senators want to try to bring him over. If everything goes well, that could be as early as 2027-28.

While it might not be a long tournament, the Senators’ prospects attending this season’s NHL Prospects Challenge are eager to make a big impact. For the top prospects in attendance, it’s a great way to get a leg up on the Senators’ training camp, and for these three, both fans and management will be curious to see how they stack up against their competition. If their history is any indication, they should be just fine.