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

Posted on by angelo
Why did the Ducks select Beckett Sennecke? Canadian prospect seems shocked Anaheim selected him 3rd overall

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

The Ducks, who held the third pick, selected Beckett Sennecke with their first-round pick. It was a surprise 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 decide to recruit Sennecke? The Sporting News answers this question and shares Sennecke’s live reaction following his selection.

2024 NHL DRAFT: RESULTS | NOTES

Why did the Ducks select Beckett Sennecke?

Sennecke is a talented prospect, but the Ducks chose the Canadian winger. The 18-year-old was supposed to be selected in the last lottery, but he was ultimately selected to Anaheim at No. 3 overall.

The organization didn’t specifically explain why it chose Sennecke over a replacement, but general manager Pat Verbeek saw immense talent in Beckett.

“Beckett is an impact player who plays with high-end skill and intelligence and has the potential to be a dynamic player.” Verbeek said. “He plays with determination, drives to the net, has incredible hands and vision. In our numerous viewings, his drive to succeed was evident. He will fit in well with our current group of elite young players already in the NHL and will support our goal of building a sustainable competitor.

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 taller winger who has a lot of skill. He brings a very intelligent game to the ice, which helps him create offense with his teammates. His regular season point total with Oshawa didn’t necessarily match his play, but Sennecke finished with a strong performance in the OHL playoffs. He loves taking on defenders 1-on-1, which probably needs to be toned down for the pros – and his defense and backchecks need improvement – ​​but his skill with the puck sets him apart.

Video of Beckett Sennecke’s reaction

Sennecke didn’t know he was joining the Anaheim Ducks, leading to this hilarious reaction to the 2024 NHL Draft.

He appeared to utter an expletive 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.