Ottawa's 2011 NHL Draft picks defined a generation of Senators hockey — and looking back 15 years later, no selection looms larger than Mika Zibanejad, the Swedish centre the Sens snagged sixth overall.
The Crown Jewel: Mika Zibanejad
Zibanejad was the kind of pick that makes a franchise drool. Fast, skilled, and cerebral, he developed steadily through his Ottawa years, becoming a reliable top-six centre and a fan favourite at the Canadian Tire Centre. But in the summer of 2016, the Senators made one of the most debated trades in franchise history — sending Zibanejad to the New York Rangers for Derick Brassard.
In hindsight, Ottawa gave away a future star. Zibanejad went on to become one of the Rangers' most important players of the decade, racking up consistent 30-plus goal seasons and cementing himself as a legitimate first-line centre in the NHL. For Ottawa fans, it remains a what-if that stings a little every time his name appears on the scoresheet.
Stefan Noesen: A Journeyman's Journey
With their 21st overall pick, Ottawa selected Stefan Noesen — a big, physical winger with offensive upside. Noesen never quite cracked the Senators' lineup in a meaningful way and was moved before reaching his prime in Ottawa. His NHL career became a well-travelled one, with stints across multiple teams.
He carved out a solid if unspectacular professional career, the kind of trajectory that reminds fans how narrow the margin is between a long-term NHLer and a depth player bouncing between the AHL and NHL. His story is less about disappointment and more about the grinding reality of professional hockey.
The Third Pick and Ottawa's Draft Strategy
Having three first-round picks in a single draft was a rare opportunity for Ottawa — the kind of draft capital that can reshape a franchise. The Senators were aggressive in building through the draft during that era, and 2011 represented real optimism about the team's future.
Looking back, the class is a microcosm of how hard it is to predict which young players will turn into stars. One became a legitimate NHL difference-maker (just not in an Ottawa jersey for as long as fans would have liked), one had a respectable journeyman career, and the third illustrated the long odds every prospect faces.
What It Means for Today's Sens
For current Ottawa fans, revisiting the 2011 draft is as much about context as nostalgia. The Senators have since leaned hard into the draft again — Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson — and the hope is that this new core stays together long enough to deliver what the 2011 class never quite could: a Stanley Cup run in Ottawa.
Fifteen years is a long time in hockey. The players from that draft are now veterans, retired, or entering the twilight of their careers. But for Sens fans, the legacy of 2011 is a reminder that getting the pick right is only half the battle — keeping the talent is the other.
Source: The Hockey News via Google News Sens RSS feed.
