LAS VEGAS — “Holy f—.”
Beckett Sennecke uttered that potential meme-inspiring phrase through widened eyes that reflected the shock of becoming the No. 3 pick of the NHL Draft on Friday night. Perhaps that reaction could have been applied to many, after the Anaheim Ducks uncorked a colossal curveball under the visual spectacle that is Sphere.
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Macklin Celebrini, naturally, was the first name called, as the San Jose Sharks got their prize. Then came the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2, as many expected. The intrigue then shifted to the Ducks.
Hulking blueliner Anton Silayev was a common projection on many mock drafts. Smooth defender Zeev Buium popped up as a possibility. Talented winger Ivan Demidov wasn’t ruled out, even though speculation of the Ducks taking him faded in recent weeks.
But there were rumblings of the fast-rising Sennecke being targeted by Anaheim. And there may not have been a more surprised person in the building at very moment than the 18-year-old Oshawa Generals standout.
His reaction was priceless.
“To my dad, I just said, ‘Oh, my God, oh, my God!’,” Sennecke said. “And then to my mom, I said, ‘Oh, my God, oh, my God.’ And then I saw my mom and my sister, and they all started crying.”
After that, the four-letter expletive popped out.
“Pretty authentic,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said following a hearty chuckle. “It’s always exciting to see a moment like that. Brings back a lot of memories.”
What made Verbeek and his staff go for a right wing who once was projected to go more in the middle of the first round than right near the top?
“What we loved about the player is his skating ability,” Verbeek said. “His hockey sense, obviously. You’ve seen some highlights. His individual skill level is really off the charts.
“He’s the type of player that can play any game on the ice, whether it’s a physical game, it’s a skilled game or a fast-paced game. That’s what excited us about him and that’s why we picked him.”
Verbeek started to personally scout Sennecke late in his Ontario Hockey League regular season. What he saw was a fascinating blend of skill, length and deception executed at a high speed in a 6-foot-2 frame. Sennecke referred to that as being “a small person’s player in a big person’s body” after a recent growth spurt.
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His season statistics — 27 goals and 41 assists across 63 games — weren’t overwhelming for junior standards. He did lead Oshawa with 207 shots on goal and seven game-winning goals. But what won Verbeek over was the OHL playoffs, in which Sennecke regularly displayed moments of dominance.
“He was incredible in the playoffs,” he said. “Before he got hurt, he was leading the OHL in scoring in the playoffs. He really carried team on his back.”
An injury suffered against the North Bay Battalion kept him out of the Generals’ OHL finals loss to the London Knights. But his stock shot up after he scored 10 goals and 12 assists in the 16-game playoff run.
“I think it was probably the driving factor,” Sennecke said. “They want someone that is going to sort of produce in the playoffs and show up when it matters most. I think that’s kind of when my season peaked. I do think that I’m a playoff performer. I think that definitely weighed in the decision.”
Time will tell, obviously, when it comes to the Toronto native and what he can become for Anaheim. Verbeek and longtime draft chief Martin Madden are obviously big believers.
“When you look at a player like him, there’s a lot of upside,” Verbeek said. “He already possesses a lot of elite skills. Now it’s just a matter of like all these young kids. Just got to get in the gym and put some weight on. Get stronger.”
The Ducks have an intriguing forward group. Troy Terry is a long-term top-six piece and Trevor Zegras is still in their mix despite regular trade speculation. Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish could be their top two centers. Cutter Gauthier is expected to be with them after making his NHL debut at the end of last season. Now they’ve got another right wing who could eventually be part of their top two lines.
“Obviously, they’re in a rebuilding stage,” Sennecke said. “I’m excited to be a part of that. Whenever they think I’m ready, I’m going to hop in there and do my job to the best of my capabilities.”
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Anaheim had a productive night. Verbeek traded his No. 31 choice, obtained from the Edmonton Oilers in the Adam Henrique trade, along with the No. 58 pick in the second round to the Toronto Maple Leafs for their No. 23 selection. With that pick, he grabbed defenseman Stian Solberg, a physical blueliner who stood out for Norway in the most recent world championships.
“He’s a throwback from a bygone era,” Verbeek said. “I love how aggressive — I love how physical he is. There’s an edge in his game that we really liked.”
But the pick of Sennecke turned heads, particularly when many thought the Ducks would use the No. 3 pick on a defenseman. Craig Button, a former NHL executive who has long been part of TSN’s draft coverage, doesn’t feel Anaheim reached for him.
“People are going to go, ‘Oh boy, oh geez, oh they didn’t have to take him there,” Button said. “You know how many times I’ve heard that over the course of my career? You take the player you like and celebrate him. Beckett’s a really good player.
“You know who he reminds me of? Corey Perry. You have to have a little more speed in today’s game. But he attacks. To the net. Great hands in and around the net. Plays hard. Beckett was always a talented player, and he was always somebody that took the initiative and played forward and played what I call inside hockey. Inside the dots and everything.”
Nothing will top Celine Dion appearing to announce her hometown Montreal Canadiens’ selection of Demidov, as the music superstar battles health issues. But Sennecke’s reaction to the Ducks’ surprise pick beat her to the punch when it came to the night’s top moments.
Like the capacity crowd at Sphere, which was in awe of the NHL’s show inside a unique setting, Sennecke was captivated by the building. And then he was blown away by his name being called so early in the proceedings.
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“The technology is just pretty advanced in here,” he said. “Obviously it cost like, what, two and a half billion to build. They better have some good technology. Honestly, looking back on it, I don’t really remember much. I kind of just blacked out, I guess. Can’t really tell you what I was looking at.
“To hear the ‘From Oshawa’ – I heard that before my name and it was just kind of butterflies and chills. It was just excitement. Happiness, I guess.”
(Photo of Beckett Sennecke and family: Dave Sandford / NHLI via Getty Images)
Eric Stephens is a staff writer for The Athletic NHL based in Southern California. Eric has been writing and talking about sports for newspapers and media outlets for more than 30 years. He has previously covered the NHL for The Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times. He is also an occasional contributor on NHL Network. Follow Eric on Twitter @icemancometh
