Senators Select Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover in NHL Draft’s First Round

In a bold move that signals a commitment to the future, the Senators have added two promising prospects to their roster during the first round of the NHL Draft. Following the significant trade that sent Brady Tkachuk to Florida, the Senators found themselves with a wealth of draft capital, including the coveted 9th overall pick. However, instead of holding onto this asset, they opted to trade it to San Jose in exchange for winger William Eklund, a player who can make an immediate impact.

Despite this trade, the Senators recognized the importance of restocking their prospect pipeline. In the deal for Eklund, they also acquired two intriguing prospects: former London Knights standout Kasper Haltunnen and the rights to forward Brandon Svoboda, who recently completed his sophomore season at Boston University.

As the draft unfolded on Friday night, many anticipated that the Senators might trade their 25th pick for more immediate help. Instead, they chose to focus on their long-term vision by selecting Swedish right winger Jonas Lagerberg Hoen from Leksands IF Jr. in a move that speaks to their desire to build a robust foundation for the future. Due to an NHL ruling regarding the Dadonov case, the Senators were also compelled to make their pick at 32. They seized the opportunity to select London Knights forward Jaxon Cover, a player who has garnered significant attention for his potential.

Lagerberg Hoen’s trajectory has been anything but conventional. He burst onto the scene two seasons ago with impressive numbers, netting 27 goals and adding 3 assists in just 38 games. Expectations were high for his NHL draft year, and he started strong with 9 goals and 7 assists in his first 9 games before unfortunately suffering a knee injury. This setback limited his visibility and likely impacted his draft stock, with some rankings placing him as low as the 70s and 80s, though NHL Central Scouting had him at 19th among all draft-eligible European skaters.

His selection brings to mind the Senators’ previous choice of Tyler Boucher, who faced similar injury concerns during his draft year. The Senators had reached for Boucher, hoping to secure a talented forward before another team could swoop in. Unfortunately, Boucher has struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the ice, leaving the franchise to hope that Lagerberg Hoen’s health will allow him to fulfill his potential. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Lagerberg Hoen is now healthy and poised to play a full season in Sweden’s second-tier Allsvenskan.

Don Boyd, the Senators’ head amateur scout, expressed enthusiasm about Lagerberg Hoen’s selection, stating, “We really liked him. 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.” Boyd also noted that they felt a sense of urgency, as other teams might have been ready to select Lagerberg Hoen before their next pick.

Then there’s Jaxon Cover, whose unique path to the NHL Draft is a compelling story in itself. Having only taken up organized ice hockey five years ago after making a name for himself in roller hockey in the Cayman Islands, Cover’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Boyd emphasized that while Cover’s backstory is intriguing, their decision to draft him was based on his evident skill and potential to become an offensive threat. Scouts have praised his athleticism and creativity, and like Lagerberg Hoen, his shot is exceptional.

Wearing the iconic number 87, a nod to Sidney Crosby, Cover demonstrated his talent by scoring 20 goals and racking up 52 points in 67 games with the Knights in the 2025-26 season. With his blend of puck skills and fearlessness near the net, Cover shows promise as a player who can make a significant impact in the NHL.

The Senators made a statement on day one of the NHL Draft by securing future talent that could shape the franchise for years to come. As the draft continues, the Senators will look to build on their foundation, with three picks in the third round and one pick each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.