The 2011 NHL Draft had been built up as a vitally important two days for the Ottawa Senators. The aim was on stockpiling young talent and the Senators had two picks in the first round.

The Senators selected center Mika Zibanejad of Djurgardens IF in Sweden with the sixth pick, then drafted right wing Stefan Noesen of Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League at No. 21.

But the Senators scouts really liked the potential of a 6-foot-2, 204-pound left wing who'd just completed a second solid season with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League, so they made a trade with the Detroit Red Wings to secure the No. 24 selection.

With it, they landed Puempel, the kid they were after.

At the age of 17, the Windsor, Ontario, native led Peterborough in scoring with 33 goals and 64 points. That performance earned him the Emms Family Award as the 2009 OHL Freshman of the Year and a spot on the all-rookie team.

His second year in Peterborough was even more convincing. Though cut short by a hip injury that required surgery and limited him to 55 games, Puempel paced the team in scoring with 34 goals and 69 points.

After being drafted, Puempel returned to Peterborough, but by mid-season, he requested, and received, a trade in order to play for a contending team his final year of junior. He was traded to Kitchener of the OHL and scored 35 goals and 47 points in 51 games. Kitchener reached the playoffs, but was eliminated in the second round.

Beginning his pro career with Binghamton of the American Hockey League in 2013-14, Puempel tied Mike Hoffman for team honors with 30 goals. He split 2014-15 between Binghamton and Ottawa, making his NHL debut on Feb. 21, 2015, in a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers, but again started the next season with Binghamton.

Puempel scored 17 goals and 30 points in 34 games to earn another call-up. In his 26 games with the Senators in 2015-16, he showed signs of being ready to make the big step to full-time NHL duty.