Washington Capitals 2024 Draft Target: Beckett Sennecke – Hockey Writers – Washington Capitals
A couple of Washington Capitals forward prospects in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft are Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League and Michael Hage of the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. Another potential striker if the Caps pick 17th Beckett Sennecke, who plays for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). It will be interesting to see where he goes in writing.
As Matthew Zator notes in Sennecke’s Draft Profile, “Beckett Sennecke has seen his draft stock rise in recent months thanks to his performance with the Oshawa Generals down through the playoffs.” There’s a good chance that Sennecke won’t be available before the Caps pick him, but if he does fall to them, he could be a solid player for them.
Sennecke’s Junior League career
Sennecke was born on January 28, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario. Before joining the Generals in the OHL, he spent time in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) with the Toronto Marlboros. Played for their U16 team in 2021-22. During that time, he scored 35 goals and provided 45 assists for 80 points in 45 games. After that, he played in his first OHL season in Oshawa in 2022-23. He suited up for 61 games, totaling 55 points in that span (20 goals and 35 assists). He is tied for fourth in points with Generals teammate Cameron Butler. Ryan Gagnier (69), Stuart Rolofs (61), and Calum Ritchie (59) have the most points.
Sennecke had an uptick in scoring in his second campaign with the General. He had 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points in 63 games. He was third on the scoring list, only behind Ritchie (80 points) and Dylan Roobroeck (72). On top of that, Sennecke was crucial to Oshawa in the 2024 season. In 16 playoff games, Sennecke had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Ritchie and Roobroeck were the only scorers in that playoff game.
Sennecke’s Game Power
With time to develop many aspects of his game, Sennecke already has special features that are of interest to NHL scouts. Joely Stockl of Hockey News talks about skating as a tangible factor in future draft picks. Stockl wrote, “The combination of Sennecke’s height and his long walk makes him a unique prospect.” Most players can be described as explosive or really quick shooters, but Sennecke finds space on opponents with his long strides and size. He has cutting edge work in tight spots on the ice, and he has a strong ability to change direction quickly.”
Related: 2024 NHL Draft: Baracchini’s Mock Draft
Another important contribution of Sennecke is his awareness of place; as Stoll wrote, “Finally, two aspects of Sennecke’s play tend to be overlooked. Sure, he’s 6-foot-2, a great skater, and has great hands, but he has a brain that allows him to be effective offensively. With the chase in particular, Sennecke’s spatial awareness and perception of skating routes improved. He always seems to be able to drag defenders down and then drop back to find open space.” (From ‘Beckett Sennecke: 2024 NHL Draft Scouting Report,’ Hockey NewsMarch 10, 2024).
Enter Capital letters
As mentioned before, the Alex Ovechkin Era is almost its end. Once Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal scoring record, there’s a chance he’ll hang up the skates and call it a job. Although there is still time before that happens, Caps general manager Brian MacLellan must prepare for the team’s next season of hockey. The upcoming offense may already be loaded with some talents such as Hendrix Lapierre and Ryan Leonard (who attends Boston College) of the 2023 NHL Draft (who attends Boston College) among others.
They may need another forward to help carry the offensive load for the future. There may be few names in the 2024 Draft that match what MacLellan is looking for, and Sennecke is up there along with other options like Catton, Hage, and others. The Caps could use the talents Sennecke brings to the table. His vision and swing are just two skills that could make him a valuable weapon for Washington or any team that selects him. Regardless of whether Sennecke is chosen by the Caps, the hockey world will see come the first round date on Friday, June 28. Wherever he goes, Sennecke will be a big contributor to the NHL when he finally makes the roster.
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