Finnigan's 8: Dec. 27, 2021

In the final instalment of 2021, Finnigan's 8 looks back on the year that was for eight Ottawa Senators prospects.

Jacob Bernard-Docker
It was a year for Bernard-Docker that saw him finish his collegiate career, make his NHL debut and win a gold medal at the IIHF World Championships.
The d-man completed his third season with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in March as his side were beaten in the Midwest Region final in five overtimes to Minnesota-Duluth. It concluded a junior season that saw Bernard-Docker claim the NCHC's Penrose Cup, be named the NCHC's Defensive Defenceman of the Year and also be selected to the Second-Team All-NCHC team.
He'd sign his entry-level contract with the Sens on April 1 and made his NHL debut April 14 against Winnipeg as the first of five games he'd play in the NHL at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Bernard-Docker extended his season by heading to Latvia with Team Canada for the IIHF World Championships in June. A year after winning a World Juniors gold medal, he'd add another international gold to his collection as he played in all 10 games, alongside Sens teammates Connor Brown and Nicholas Paul, as Canada won the tournament for the 27th time.
The Camrose, AB., native tallied his first NHL point on Nov. 13 against Pittsburgh and scored his first pro goal Oct. 27 for the Belleville Senators.
Ridly Greig
The 28th overall pick in 2020 saw his 2021 begin in the AHL where he played four times with Belleville and collected his first points as a professional with two assists against Laval on Feb. 16.
He'd then return to junior where with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Greig had 10 goals and 22 assists in just 21 games. His 32 points tied for the eighth most in the WHL while his 39 penalty minutes had him alone in eighth place. His 22 assists were tied for the sixth most in the league.
Greig would return to the AHL to close out the season, playing three more games and scoring his first pro goal May 11.
His 2021-22 campaign thus far has been even more dominant than the year before. He wowed the NHL with a highlight reel goal in his first ever preseason contest against Winnipeg on Sept. 26 before he was assigned to Brandon in October, where upon his return, he was named captain.

In 19 games this year in the WHL, he has 14 goals and 28 points alongside 46 penalty minutes. Greig is closing out 2021 by representing Canada at the 2022 World Juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer.
Zack Ostapchuk
The only 2021 draft pick on this list, Ostapchuk made an immediate impact after being taken 39th overall by the Sens.
His 2020-21 draft year saw him tally 16 points (seven goals) in 22 games with the WHL's Vancouver Giants and was named the team's most improved player at their end of season awards.
Once he got to Ottawa in September for rookie camp, he was an immediate standout and was a crucial part of the team's two-game sweep of Montreal in the Rookie Series. He was rewarded on Sept. 29 as he signed his entry-level contract with the Senators and then later that night played in his first NHL preseason game against Toronto where he played 10:56.
Since returning to Vancouver for the 2021-22 season, Ostapchuk has already matched his goal total from a year ago and has 15 points in 23 games.
Shane Pinto
It was nothing short of a sensational final year at North Dakota for Pinto.
He was named NCHC Player of the Year and in the process became the first player in conference history to win the award unanimously. Additionally, he was named the NCHC's Forward of the Year, Defensive Forward of the Year and was unanimously selected to the First-Team All-NCHC team. He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
Furthermore, he led the conference in goals (15) and points (28). Additionally, he was the conference leader with 11 multi-point games, seven power play goals and 13 power play points. His 1.22 point per game average was also the best among all NCHC players. His 62 per cent success rate in the faceoff circle also topped the conference, as did his 308 faceoff wins.
After two incredible years at North Dakota - he was NCHC Rookie of the Year in 2019-20 - Pinto signed his entry-level contract with the Sens on April 1.
He made his NHL debut April 17, and tallied an assist in the process, and scored his first goal May 5. Since leaving school, Pinto has managed eight points in 17 NHL games.
Jake Sanderson
The fifth overall pick in 2020 saw his 2021 get off to a perfect start as he claimed gold at the 2021 World Juniors as the USA beat Canada 2-0 in the final.
Sanderson would tally two assists in seven games before he returned to North Dakota where he'd conclude his freshman year by being named to the NCHC All-Rookie team after receiving 12 first-team votes.
The blue liner has continued his fine form into 2021-22 where he has been sensational thus far this season with six goals and 19 points in just 15 games. The quality of his performances so far this season can be summed up by USA World Juniors head coach Nate Leaman who called Sanderson "the best player in college hockey this year."

Perhaps fittingly, Sanderson is ending his 2021 the same way it started by being at the World Juniors. However, there is just one slight difference this time; Sanderson was named captain Dec. 21.
Mads Sogaard
After Covid-19 concluded his junior career with Medicine Hat, Sogaard returned to his native Denmark to start 2021.
He suited up 16 times with the Esbjerg Energy of the Metal Ligaen where he went 10-5-1 while he posted a team high, and league best, .922 save percentage and 2.58 GAA.
The Dane would sign his entry-level contract with Ottawa on April 13 and made his AHL debut on May 1. In seven games with Belleville last season, Sogaard went a perfect 7-0-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .917 save percentage.

In August, he was part of the Danish squad that secured Olympic qualification for the first time in their history and in 11 games with Belleville in 2021-22, he has six wins and a .915 save percentage.
Egor Sokolov
Sokolov's first calendar year in pro hockey likely could have not gone much better.
In his rookie campaign with the Belleville Senators, Sokolov had 15 goals and 25 points in 35 contests to lead the team in both categories. He scored his first pro hat-trick April 4 against Toronto and at season's end was named to the AHL's Canadian Division All-Star team. His 15 goals led all AHL rookies.
In September, he'd help the Sens sweep Montreal in their Rookie Series as he scored twice in Game 2 before he'd play his first NHL preseason game Sept. 26. He'd score his first NHL preseason goal Oct. 1 as part of a 7-2 thrashing of Montreal.

The Russian winger started 2021-22 in Belleville and received his first NHL recall on Nov. 8. He'd make his NHL debut a day later in Boston and has played four games this season with Ottawa. In 18 games with Belleville, he has four goals and 14 points and sits second in team scoring.
Lassi Thomson
Thomson's first pro season in North America saw him play in all 35 games with Belleville in 2020-21 where he'd score one goal and add 12 assists.
He'd dominate during the Sens' two game sweep over the Canadiens in the Rookie Series in September with the team's head coach Troy Mann calling Thomson "our best defenceman." He'd play his first NHL preseason game Sept. 26 against Winnipeg before heading to Belleville to start the 2021-22 campaign.
The Finn was recalled by Ottawa in November and made his NHL debut Nov. 11 against the Kings and would record his first point on Nov. 13 versus Pittsburgh. Thomson has played 11 games with Ottawa this season where he has tallied three assists. In eight games with Belleville, the d-man has three goals, two of which have come on the power play, and five points.