Ottawa Senators fans got their first real look at goaltending prospect Lucas Beckman this summer, and the organization is hoping his run of form carries into training camp season.
A playoff run to remember
Beckman, an 18-year-old goaltender originally from Montreal, led the Chicoutimi Sagueneens to a QMJHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup last season. The path there wasn't smooth. He battled mono during the year and was traded midseason from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to Chicoutimi. Once healthy and in Chicoutimi's net, he was close to unbeatable: in the 2025-26 QMJHL playoffs he went undefeated at 8-0, with a 0.75 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage.
From draft pick to contract
The Senators picked Beckman in the fourth round, 97th overall, at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles.
This summer brought more change. Beckman was traded to the Cape Breton Eagles, his third team in two seasons, a lot of movement for a young goaltender still establishing himself in junior hockey. He also got a taste of the international stage, named to Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase team and competing for his country in August.
What's next: the Prospect Challenge in Gatineau
Beckman's next chance to show the Senators what he can do comes fast. The event brings together prospects from the Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, giving Ottawa hockey fans an early look at the next wave of talent in all four organizations before NHL training camps open.
For Beckman, it's a chance to build directly on the goaltending form that carried Chicoutimi through the QMJHL playoffs, this time in Senators gear and in front of an Ottawa-area crowd rather than back home in Quebec junior hockey.
Why it matters in Ottawa
Goaltending prospects rarely get instant NHL minutes, but a strong Prospect Challenge can shape how quickly a young netminder like Beckman climbs an organization's depth chart. With the event happening right in Gatineau this weekend, it's also one of the more accessible chances for local fans to see a Senators prospect up close before the regular season gets underway.
Earlier this month
Beckman isn't the only Senators prospect drawing attention as camp approaches: ottown's earlier report covers winger Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, who is also working his way back into the lineup after injury.
Sources: NHL.com (Senators)
