Why did the Ducks draft Beckett Sennecke? Canadian prospect seems shocked Anaheim reached for him at No. 3

Brendan OSullivan

Why did the Ducks draft Beckett Sennecke? Canadian prospect seems shocked Anaheim reached for him at No. 3 image

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

The Ducks, who owned the No. 3 pick, selected Beckett Sennecke with their first-round pick. It came as a shock to just about everyone, including Sennecke himself.

The 18-year-old winger from Toronto looked baffled but also thrilled by the selection. Most mock drafts and experts had Sennecke falling later in the draft. Bryan Murphy had the Buffalo Sabres drafting Sennecke at No. 14 in his final mock draft. 

Furthermore, Sennecke revealed that he never met with the Ducks prior to the draft, enhancing his surprise.

Why did Anaheim decide to draft Sennecke? The Sporting News answers that and shares Sennecke's live reaction to being selected.

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Why did the Ducks draft Beckett Sennecke?

Sennecke is a talented prospect, but by all means, the Ducks reached for the Canadian winger. The 18-year-old was projected to land in the late lottery, but he instead landed in Anaheim at No. 3.

The organization didn't specifically comment on why it selected Sennecke rather than trade back, but general manager Pat Verbeek saw immense talent in Beckett.

"Beckett is an impact player that plays with high-end skill and intelligence and has the potential to be a dynamic player." Verbeek said. "He plays with purpose, drives to the net, has incredible hands and vision. In our many viewings, his drive to be successful was evident. He will fit in well with our current group of elite young players already in the NHL and support our goal to build a perennial contender."

Murphy ranked Sennecke as his No. 12 prospect on his final 2024 NHL Draft big board. Here's what Sporting News' expert hockey analyst had to say:

Sennecke is a bigger winger who possesses a ton of skill. He brings a really smart game to the ice, which helps him create offense with his teammates. His point totals in the regular season with Oshawa didn't necessarily correlate with his play, but Sennecke finished with a strong showing in the OHL playoffs. He loves to go at defenders 1 on 1, which likely needs to be toned down for the pros  — and his defense and backchecking needs improvement — but his talent with the puck makes him stand out.

Beckett Sennecke reaction video

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

He seemed to mouth an expletive along with "oh my god" while embracing his parents. 

Sennecke told Leah Hextall that he didn't meet with the Ducks prior to the draft, so he was surprised but pleased with the selection.

Brendan OSullivan

Brendan OSullivan Photo

Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News, joining in 2024. He previously worked at Newsday on Long Island, New York after graduating from Quinnipiac University.