The Anaheim Ducks caught plenty of people off guard when they made Beckett Sennecke the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. One year later, that choice looks a lot less surprising.
Sennecke spent the full season in the NHL and never looked out of place. He played all 82 games for Anaheim, one of only three Ducks to do that this past season, and turned in a rookie year that earned him a Calder Trophy nomination. His final line was strong across the board: 23 goals, 37 assists, and 60 points.
That production put him in some notable company. Sennecke became the third Ducks rookie to reach 60 points, joining Trevor Zegras and Bobby Ryan.
His 23 goals ranked fourth among Anaheim rookies, and his 37 assists trailed only Zegras. On the team leaderboard, he finished third in goals, fourth in assists, and third in points.
Only Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson scored more goals and points for Anaheim.
He also made his presence felt on the power play. Sennecke posted one power-play goal, 12 power-play assists, and 13 power-play points, with his 12 power-play assists ranking second on the team behind Jackson LaCombe. And he wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, scoring his first career goal in his first career game, then adding his second in his second game.
The signature moment of his season came against Calgary, when he scored a hat trick that included the overtime winner. Among NHL rookies, Sennecke finished tied for first in goals, second in assists, and second in points. He ended up third in Calder Trophy voting, with defenseman Matthew Schaefer taking home the award, and he was also named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
Sennecke’s playoff run only added to the impression he made in the regular season. He appeared in all 12 games and scored five goals and six points, with those five goals tied for the team lead alongside veteran Mikael Granlund.
After managing just one goal in the first-round series against Edmonton, he caught fire against Vegas and scored in four straight games. That made him the fourth rookie in the past 25 years to score in four consecutive playoff games, joining Auston Matthews, Logan Couture, and Nicklas Backstrom.
He also became the sixth player in NHL history to score in three straight playoff games before turning 21, joining Sidney Crosby, Glen Wesley, Shawn Burr, Wendel Clark, and Paul Coffey.
A year ago, the expectation was much different. The belief then was that Sennecke would spend most of the season in the OHL, maybe start with Anaheim and then head back to juniors to finish the year.
Because of that, the only thing he really matched from those projections was lasting deep into training camp. He didn’t end up playing in the OHL the way some expected, and he didn’t make Team Canada’s World Junior roster either, but the season he actually delivered was still a major success.
Now the question is how he builds on it. Sennecke has already shown he can be part of Anaheim’s present and future, but the next step is avoiding the sophomore slump.
He doesn’t have to top his rookie numbers to call next season a success, but he does need to stay one of the Ducks’ most dangerous forwards. A top-six role looks secure, especially with Troy Terry starting the year on IR, and Sennecke should remain a key piece on the power play.
He also skated alongside Granlund and Alex Killorn to form a dangerous second line in the playoffs.
There’s also the contract picture to keep in mind. Sennecke has two years left on his entry-level deal, and he’ll be a restricted free agent when it expires.
If he keeps trending up over the next two seasons, he could be headed for a major payday on his next contract. Even if he settles in as a reliable 20-goal scorer, that should still set him up for a significant deal in both term and money.
If his play dips from this rookie level, though, a bridge contract at a lower value would be the likely path.
With the graduated prospects wrapped up, the next update turns to forward Nathan Gaucher.
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