The Ottawa Senators will host their annual Prospect Challenge this weekend in Gatineau, featuring several of the organization’s young prospects and recent acquisitions in matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday, 6 p.m.) and Montreal Canadiens (Sunday, 6 p.m.) at Slush Puppie Centre.
Jaxon Cover, selected 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, will make his first live appearance for Senators fans. According to London Knights general manager Mark Hunter, Cover’s path to professional hockey is unconventional—he primarily played roller hockey in the Cayman Islands before transitioning to ice hockey in Canada at age 13. Despite still developing fundamentals, Hunter noted that “the upside is huge on this young man.”
The weekend will also mark the first time Kasper Halttunen and Eskild Bakke Olsen suit up in Senators jerseys. Halttunen, a physical right winger acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the William Eklund trade, recorded 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda last season. Bakke Olsen, 24, was signed to a one-year entry-level contract worth $910,000 after helping Norway upset Canada 3-2 in overtime in the bronze-medal game at the world hockey championship in May.
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, the Senators’ first-round pick (No. 25) this June, will attend but will not play this weekend. General manager Steve Staios had ranked Lagerberg Hoen at No. 16 on the team’s big board, viewing him as having “home run potential.” The 18-year-old winger missed most of last season due to a knee injury requiring ACL surgery but has been skating for months. He recorded 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in nine games for Sweden’s top junior league to start the 2025-26 season.
Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk’s absence from the prospect roster suggests the Senators may be preparing him for the main roster. Yakemchuk had 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) in 54 games with Belleville of the American Hockey League last season and had multi-point performances in both his regular-season and playoff debuts with Ottawa.
Goalie Lucas Beckman, considered the franchise’s potential future in net, will see action this weekend. Beckman led the Chicoutimi Saguenéens to a QMJHL championship with a 16-4 record and .918 save percentage before signing a three-year entry-level deal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-overall pick Gavin McKenna will not play games this weekend despite being on their rookie roster. McKenna had 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games at Penn State last season and recorded two points per game for Canada at the World Juniors.
Key facts
- Jaxon Cover (2026 Draft, 32nd overall) will play for the Senators this weekend after growing up playing roller hockey in the Cayman Islands
- Kasper Halttunen and Eskild Bakke Olsen will make their first Senators appearances
- Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (2026 Draft, 25th overall) will attend but not play due to ACL surgery recovery
- Carter Yakemchuk’s omission suggests he may be retained for the main roster
- Goalie Lucas Beckman won a QMJHL championship with a .918 save percentage before signing with Ottawa