On Monday afternoon, the Ottawa Senators announced the signing of goalie prospect Joey Daccord to a two-year entry-level contract.
The 22-year-old will join the NHL club on Tuesday and remain with the team for the rest of the 2018-19 campaign. Speculation has it that he may even start in one of Ottawa’s final three regular season games against the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, or Columbus Blue Jackets.
From Sun Devil to Senator
Daccord is turning out to be another one of those high-end prospects that the Senators are notoriously known to find in the late stages of the draft. In 2015, he was drafted 199th overall in the seventh round; only 12 players had the honor of getting drafted to the NHL after his selection. Since his draft day in Florida, the recently-turned pro has attended Ottawa’s last four development camps.
The native of North Andover, Massachusetts has played his last three seasons with Arizona State University. Overall, he earned a 32-40-7 record, to go along with a 3.07 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. However, it’s not these stats that impress the Senators.
Daccord has statistically improved every season at the school and is coming off his best ever. In fact, the 6’3″, 205-pound goalie has set new records in the university’s hockey program in 2018-19. This included starting in all 35 games, earning a record of 21-13-1.
Daccord was also ranked among the best NCAA goalies in all stat lines. He led the league with seven shutouts during the regular season and finished with a .926 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average. For his outstanding efforts, the young goalie finds himself a 2019 Mike Richter Award Finalist as well as a 2019 Hobey Baker nominee. Daccord also made Arizona State University history by becoming the first ever Sun Devil to sign an NHL entry-level deal.
Deep Crease
Daccord joins a suddenly deep pool of goaltenders in the Senators organization. Currently, they have six under contract this year. They are Craig Anderson, Anders Nilsson, Mike Condon, Marcus Hogberg, Filip Gustavsson, and Daccord.
Space relief between the Ottawa pipes may be on its way, but it will come at one or more goalies’ expense. Furthermore, it is uncertain how this space may open up. With an exception for unforeseen circumstances, the three locks in the Ottawa system next year are likely to be Anderson, Gustavsson, and Daccord. What happens with Nilsson, Hogberg, and Condon is yet to be seen.
Goalie Watch
Nilsson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Jul. 1. However, the giant Swede has done a commendable job for the Senators since arriving from Vancouver earlier this season via trade. So far this year, Nilsson’s record with the Senators is 10-11-0, while his stats are 3.02 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Hogberg is scheduled to become a restricted free agent. A Senators third-round pick in 2013, it has taken the Swedish goalie nearly six years to develop. At 24-years-old, Hogberg may finally be NHL-ready. He has performed admirably for the Belleville Senators this season, earning a record of 19-7-6 so far, to go along with a 2.31 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
Then, there is Condon. The 28-year-old may get pushed towards a buy-out if he has regained his health. Condon is signed until Jul. 1, 2020, and makes a hefty $2.4 million per year. Since 2016-17, he is a miserable 5-17-5 and has a 4.83 goals-against average and .851 save percentage.
Currently, the future of the Senators crease is cloudy. However, it is likely to become more clear this off-season.
Cover Photo Credit: Omar Phillips
Billy Morrison lives in Ottawa and covers the Ottawa Senators for Full Press Coverage. Follow Billy on Twitter, @BillyMorrison01.
