It’s largely assumed that the Ottawa Senators will goal a defenceman with their first choose within the 2024 NHL Draft. Zayne Parekh has lengthy been related to the staff, and extra just lately, Sam Dickinson has been quoted as being keen on coming to Canada’s capital. In his Draft Mix interview, he mentioned, “That one was somewhat extra intense, particularly understanding that there’s been some speak about me heading to Ottawa. Positively one which I used to be wanting ahead to and wished to present my finest … it went very well.”
However top-pairing defencemen aren’t the one prospects the Senators have been related to. Their ahead core is powerful up entrance however lacks depth in nearly each space, particularly on the proper aspect. That’s led to some hypothesis that they could be keen on Tij Iginla, who I profiled final week as a possible goal, in addition to one of many hottest risers heading into the draft, Beckett Sennecke, who took off on the finish of the season and now could possibly be a top-12 choose.
Following my preliminary evaluation of the highest three priorities the staff wanted to handle with their first-round picks, right here’s a deeper take a look at Sennecke, who could possibly be one of the proficient gamers from his draft class.
Beckett Sennecke Scouting Report
On paper, Sennecke didn’t have the season one would anticipate from a prospect being thought of for a top-10 choice. In 63 video games with the Oshawa Generals, he scored 27 objectives and 68 factors. Nonetheless, the stats solely inform half the story. As a rookie within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) final season, he stood 5-foot-10 and confirmed quite a lot of promise, scoring 20 objectives at 55 factors in 61 video games. However firstly of the 2023-24 season, he measured in at 6-foot-2. That’s quite a lot of development for a teen, and he initially struggled to adapt. Till Christmas, he didn’t look all that a lot better than he did as a rookie, scoring 9 objectives and 25 factors in 27 video games.
However after the Christmas break, Sennecke got here again with a brand new spring in his step. Over the subsequent 36 video games, he scored 18 objectives and 43 factors, a way more promising tempo, and he saved getting higher. Within the final 12 video games alone, he had seven objectives and 22 factors. Then got here the playoffs, the place he hit a brand new degree, scoring 10 objectives and 22 factors in 16 video games earlier than an harm pressured him out of the OHL Closing.
Sennecke was at all times anticipated to be a high prospect within the 2024 NHL Draft, however he wanted somewhat extra time than a few of his friends because of his sudden development spurt. Now he’s being debated because the second-best ahead accessible because of his uncommon mixture of measurement and talent.
“They sort of name me a small particular person’s sport in an enormous participant’s physique,” Sennecke informed The Hockey Information. “So I feel being smaller I used to be capable of develop that imaginative and prescient, puck-handling means, and agility. Now clearly rising so much I feel I’ve saved these sorts of studying experiences.”
The Hockey Writers’ Matthew Zator agrees, writing in his scouting report:
“Regardless of a totally developed bodily toolkit, Sennecke has been a drive within the OHL this season. His shot and playmaking alone make him worthy of a first-round choose, however his different strengths in measurement, arms and skating push him excessive. In truth, he’s been described as one of many three finest playmakers within the 2024 draft class, able to placing up 50-60 assists as a winger within the NHL sometime. That kind of dual-threat from the wing place is a rarity within the NHL and will make Sennecke a beneficial commodity within the draft and in his NHL future. Watching the chemistry he’s developed with Calum Ritchie in Oshawa reveals the worth he can carry to a lineup. Wingers like which are unpredictable, as defenders and goaltenders should respect their shot as a lot as their imaginative and prescient and playmaking. Sennecke would be the good complement to any heart he performs with on the subsequent degree.”
Why Sennecke Makes Sense
Though a lot of the eye has been given to Ottawa’s struggling defence, the Senators lack depth on the proper wing. After Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson, there are few choices accessible, particularly if the staff can commerce Mathieu Joseph earlier than the draft. Tyler Boucher has struggled with accidents and consistency all through his profession, however even when he has been wholesome, he hasn’t seemed like a top-six winger. Oskar Pettersson, who joined the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Belleville Senators this season, has extra potential however is as soon as once more probably destined to be a bottom-six defensive ahead.
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Forwards steadily transfer round, which is how the Senators have made do with out many pure right-wingers of their farm system. For instance, Parker Kelly is primarily a left-winger however performed totally on the proper this season – Ottawa’s left-wingers don’t supply way more upside. Roby Jarventie and Angus Crookshank have intriguing upsides however are lengthy pictures to make the NHL, and Cole Reinhardt and Egor Sokolov are as soon as once more almost definitely to finish up in defensive roles within the backside six. That’s not quite a lot of choices as soon as the 36-year-old Giroux strikes on.
Including Sennecke would instantly give the Senators a high possibility. He’s a pure right-winger who has proven nice chemistry with Generals’ star Ritchie and has the dimensions and physicality to mesh nicely with Ottawa’s in-your-face id. He’s additionally a incredible puck mover, which may enable expert snipers like Brady Tkachuk, Shane Pinto, and Josh Norris (if wholesome) the liberty to play extra of their most well-liked fashion.
Why Sennecke Would possibly Not Be the Proper Alternative
Of the gamers I’ve checked out thus far – Parekh, Dickinson, and Iginla – Sennecke is by far the largest attain from seventh general. THW Logan Horn ranked him eleventh general (albeit one spot forward of Iginla), whereas Peter Baracchini positioned him thirteenth general. Just one main scouting supply has ranked him throughout the high 10, Elite Prospects, who slotted him ninth of their closing rating. With Steve Staios publicly stating that he desires to take the perfect participant accessible, Sennecke won’t be on that checklist.
It’s additionally riskier to pick a participant who hasn’t had the constant success that others have demonstrated. Take Iginla, for instance. He’s been on an upward trajectory all season, culminating in a incredible efficiency on the U18 World Junior Championships. Sennecke, regardless of being eligible, wasn’t even on the roster as a result of his gradual begin. Whereas the tip of his season was incredible, it’s a comparatively small pattern measurement in comparison with his friends.
Lastly, there are some issues about his means to be a top-tier improviser in the identical vein as Mikko Rantanen and Patrick Kane. These gamers anticipate the play faster than anybody else on the ice, making them professional playmakers. Regardless of exhibiting off high-end pace, puck-handing, and agility, Sennecke hasn’t proven the flexibility to be two or three steps forward of the play. Which may restrict his general upside within the NHL.
Nonetheless, there are quite a lot of issues to love about Sennecke in a Senators uniform. It’s not that he can’t anticipate an opponent’s actions; he’s incredible at choosing pockets within the offensive zone and creating scoring probabilities from nothing. He can also weave out and in of site visitors, which is a powerful means for a participant who stands 6-foot-2. If he can add a bodily edge and improve his imaginative and prescient, he’ll be the proper top-six winger to go on a protracted playoff run with.
