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Why did the Ducks select Beckett Sennecke? Canadian prospect seems shocked Anaheim picked him 3rd overall

Posted on by angelo

The first surprise of the 2024 NHL Draft came early Friday night.

The Ducks, who had the No. 3 pick, selected Beckett Sennecke with their first-round pick. This came as a shock to almost everyone, including Sennecke himself.

The 18-year-old winger from Toronto looked baffled but also delighted by the selection. Most mock drafts and pundits had Sennecke falling later in the draft. Bryan Murphy had the Buffalo Sabers draft Sennecke 14th overall in his latest mock draft.

Additionally, Sennecke revealed that he never met with the Ducks before the draft, which added to his surprise.

Why did Anaheim choose Sennecke? The Sporting News answers that question and shares Sennecke’s live reaction to his selection.

2024 NHL Draft: Results | notes

Why did the Ducks select Beckett Sennecke?

Sennecke is a talented prospect, but the Ducks have certainly sought out the Canadian winger. The 18-year-old was expected to land in the late lottery, but instead landed in Anaheim at No. 3.

The organization hasn’t specifically commented on why it chose Sennecke rather than trading him, but general manager Pat Verbeek saw immense talent in Beckett.

“Beckett is an impact player who plays with great skill and intelligence and has the potential to become a dynamic player,” Verbeek said. “He plays with determination, drives to the net, has incredible hands and vision. During our many visits, his drive to succeed was evident. He will fit well with our current group of elite young players already in the NHL and will support our goal of building a perennial contender.”

Murphy ranked Sennecke as his 12th prospect on his final board for the 2024 NHL Draft. Here’s what Sporting News’ expert hockey analyst had to say:

Sennecke is a bigger winger who has a lot of skill. He plays very smart on the ice, which helps him create offence with his teammates. His regular season points with Oshawa didn’t necessarily correlate with his play, but Sennecke finished with a solid performance in the OHL playoffs. He likes to play defencemen 1-on-1, which probably needs to be toned down in the pros – and his defence and defensive skills need to be improved – but his puck skills set him apart.

Beckett Sennecke reaction video

Sennecke had no idea he would be joining the Anaheim Ducks, leading to this hilarious reaction during the 2024 NHL Draft.

He appeared to utter a curse accompanied by “oh my god” while hugging his parents.

Sennecke told Leah Hextall that he hadn’t met with the Ducks before the draft, so he was surprised but pleased with the selection.