Jaxon Cover, Kasper Halttunen headline Senators Prospect Challenge roster this weekend

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeOttawa SenatorsSportsHockeyNHL Jaxon Cover, Kasper Halttunen headline Senators Prospect Challenge roster this weekend One of Ottawa's 2026 first-round picks and a winger acquired in the William Eklund trade will be in Gatineau this weekend for games against the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs' rookie squads. Author of the article: By Callum Fraser Published Sep 10, 2026 Last updated 3 hours ago 4 minute read Join the conversation Jaxon Cover poses for a portrait after being selected 32nd overall by the Ottawa Senators at the 2026 NHL Draft. Getty Images Article content Ottawa Senators fans will get their first live look at one of the club’s newest, most promising young forwards this weekend in Gatineau. Article content Jaxon Cover, selected 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, will suit up for games against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday, 6 p.m.) and Montreal Canadiens (Sunday, 6 p.m.) at Slush Puppie Centre. Article content Article content Cover’s unconventional route to hockey fame — he mostly played roller hockey in the Cayman Islands before transitioning to ice hockey in Canada at age 13 — is just as impressive as his skill and creativity. Article content Article content As London Knights general manager Mark Hunter told the Ottawa Citizen, despite Cover still learning the fundamentals of the game and getting more comfortable with his edges on the ice, “the upside is huge on this young man.” Article content Article content Article content The Prospect Challenge will also be the first time that newcomers Kasper Halttunen and Eskild Bakke Olsen slip on a Sens jersey. Article content Halttunen, a physical right winger with a hefty shot, was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the William Eklund trade. He is a year or two away from potentially breaking into the NHL, recording 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda last season. Article content Bakke Olsen, one of the oldest players in the showcase at age 24, had a bit of a coming out party at the world hockey championship in May for Norway, helping upset Canada 3-2 in overtime in the bronze-medal game. The day after the Stanley Cup was handed to the Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa signed the forward to a one-year, entry-level contract worth $910,000. Article content Another name on the roster that caught many fans’ attention Thursday…