With the 28th Pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators Have Selected Shane Bowers From the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL.
About Shane Bowers
Shane Bowers is a player with a ton of tools that can make an impact at the next level. Doing everything right on the ice, Bowers is as safe a pick as it gets with his skillset and ability coupled with his workhorse mentality and effective play in front of and around the net. Going to the dirty areas to ensure that plays are finished, Bowers is a player that doesn’t play flashy, but plays effectively. A strong 200-foot game, Bowers gives it his all from shift to shift.
Shane Bowers is now part of the @Senators organization. #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/KLX36Al6sR
— NHL (@NHL) June 24, 2017
THW Prospect Profile Excerpt:
Skaters with a plethora of elite tools are rarely overlooked by modern NHL scouts. The more skills the better, and Shane Bowers has a variety of talents, projecting the Waterloo Black Hawks center to be a first-round pick during the 2017 NHL Draft.
Bowers’ all-around play this season guided the Black Hawks into the Clark Cup conference finals. During the regular season, Bowers collected 18 goals and 57 points in 47 outings. His international experience includes dressing for Team Canada at the 2015 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.
Known for his ability to handle the puck down low, in cycles and setting up teammates, Bowers’ lower-body strength and balance make it a challenge for defenders to knock him off the puck. On cycles, he maintains leverage by consistently keeping his body between the defender and puck.
Bowers’ physical presence was felt between the hash marks, especially when he utilized his quick hands and a swift wrist shot to create scoring chances. His on-ice awareness and vision created opportunities for his Black Hawks teammates and the skills should continue to develop at the next level.
A responsible defender who rarely gets caught out of position, Bowers’ scouting report is not limited by his offensive prowess.
Bowers never appeared concerned with going the unconventional route of playing in the USHL after twice being drafted in the QMJHL (2015, first round and 2016, second round). He’s signed to compete at Boston University next season.
Full player profile can be found here
How This Affects the Ottawa Senators’ Plans
The Senators have had a good run of drafting as of late with solid, high-upside players falling to them later in the draft. With Bowers committed to play at Boston University next season, he’ll get a chance to develop his play even further at one of the best programs in the country. The Senators could use a high-upside center to slot into their top-six somewhere down the line and Bowers has all the tools to make that happen potentially sooner than later.