Senators first-round pick Jaxon Cover shines in Prospect Challenge

The final pick of the opening round of this year’s NHL Draft has made an excellent first impression with the Ottawa Senators.

Jaxon Cover had three goals and four assists in two games at the Prospect Challenge this weekend in Gatineau, Que., including two goals and two helpers in a 5-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.

The London Knights forward was picked 32nd overall by the Senators.

“Going into this, I wasn’t really thinking about points,” Cover said. “Just trying to play my game and keep it simple. The puck kept finding my stick and was just trying to capitalize on my chances and show I can score goals.”

Ottawa got the 32nd pick back in this year’s draft after originally being docked its selection for the botched Evgenii Dadonov trade in 2022.

The decision was initially levied on Nov. 1, 2023, that the Senators would forfeit a first-rounder in 2024, ‘25 or ’26. Owner Michael Andlauer, who had just taken over the team, fired then-general manager Pierre Dorion that day and named Steve Staios as the replacement for the role.

The Senators switched Cover to centre for Sunday’s game after he played at his usual right-wing position on Saturday.

“He was impressive again. He’s obviously pretty dynamic, as we saw the last two games,” Belleville Senators coach Andrew Campbell said.

In what was a physical game, Cover showcased his skills.

“He’s so smart, so he doesn’t put himself in compromising positions,” Campbell said. “He knows where he is on the ice. He makes his way around, he’s elusive, he’s shifty, he’s fast. He doesn’t get hit all that often.”

Raised in the Cayman Islands, Cover, 18, didn’t begin playing ice hockey until the age of 13, after playing roller hockey in his youth.

Last season, he had a team-leading 20 goals and finished second with 52 points in 67 games with the Knights.