Senators Have Big Plans for Rookie Defenseman This Season

For a rebuilding team like the Ottawa Senators, it’s inevitable to put faith in young players with the hope that they’re ready to succeed at the highest level. The Senators appear poised to do just that with defenseman Tyler Kleven. With just 17 NHL games under his belt over the past two seasons, Kleven looks poised to have a full-time job in Ottawa this season with the Senators hoping the 22-year-old is ready to take the opportunity and run with it.

While still unproven in the NHL, Ottawa’s confidence in Kleven is clear from some of the team’s other moves this offseason. Knowing they had players like Kleven waiting in the wings made it easier for the Senators to part ways with restricted free agent Erik Brannstrom. The Senators wouldn’t have been so willing to let Brannstrom get away if they didn’t think Kleven could be a regular in their rotation this season.

Kleven has already proven himself to be a serviceable replacement in the NHL. He was called up on two separate occasions because of an injury last season, playing in nine games for Ottawa. During that time, he was able to hold his own despite a lack of experience. At the same time, Kleven has little left to prove in the minors. He posted a +14 rating across his 53 games for the Belleville Senators last season, contributing five goals and 16 assists.

To be fair, racking up points isn’t likely to be one of Kleven’s strong suits in the NHL. At 6’4’, he brings size and physicality to Ottawa’s defense. His college career in North Dakota was plagued by frequent suspensions, which speaks to Kleven’s physicality and aggression. Fortunately, his time in the minors has helped Kleven to control that aggression and utilize it in more positive ways.

At the same time, there is still room for improvement in the areas of his game. As a bigger player, Kleven’s skating has improved over time while he’s been honest about his need to improve his decision-making. There is also room for improvement when it comes to his puck skills, which could help him rack up more goals and assists than he has in the past.

Heading into the new season, Kleven is expected to be Ottawa’s third line. That should be enough to guarantee him at least 15 minutes of ice time per game. However, the ceiling for Kleven is much higher. He has a chance to play his way into more significant ice time if he proves ready to be a consistent contributor at the highest level. Plus, with lingering concerns about the health of Thomas Chabot, a move up to Ottawa’s second line out of need is also possible. In other words, the Senators have high hopes for Kleven, and they may be relying on him to be a key part of the team’s core sooner than most people expect.

Now, Kleven may not move the needle much when it comes to projecting Ottawa’s 2024-25 season. His emergence won’t exactly make the Senators favorites in the Atlantic Division. However, if you’re using one of Canada’s best betting sites to place wagers on how the Senators will do during the upcoming season, it’s worth considering Ottawa’s approach to young players like Kleven and how that reliance on youngsters could have an impact on the upcoming season.

Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images