Size. You’re going to hear the word dozens, if not hundreds more times from here until the NHL draft is over. Teams are either looking for it, or looking beyond it with their selections, trying to become tougher to play against without leaving too much skill on the table. It isn’t hard to find large hockey players, but it can be hard to find large hockey players with the ability to be more than big bodies out there.
Beckett Sennecke is one of those rare players with the size that teams covet, combined with an ability to stickhandle in a phone booth.
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Date of birth: January 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6′2″
Weight: 181 lbs.
Team: Oshawa Generals (OHL)
He flirted with the point-per-game mark in his rookie season with the Oshawa Generals, putting up 55 points in 61 games. He didn’t see a massive jump in 2023-24, but crossed that threshold with 68 points in 63 games. Moreover, he got better and better as the season went on, culminating in an excellent 22 points in 16 playoff games, capping off his draft year in style, and forcing scouts to take notice when they sat down to compile their rankings.
One of the first things you’re bound to notice when watching a Generals game is the puck-on-a-string ridiculousness that Sennecke is capable of. He has some of the best hands of anyone available in this draft, and can flat-out embarrass opponents with his moves. He can turn defenders and goaltenders inside-out, and tries some really unorthodox looking handles that seem like they should end up as turnovers, but he somehow pulls them off.
He prefers playmaking, working the give-and-go very well to play off of his teammates, and typically using his puck handling to open up passing lanes when he’s not driving the net himself. Perhaps an underrated feature of his game is his hockey IQ, as he connects plays very well and seems to be a step ahead of defenders at every turn with the puck. He knows where his teammates will be, and puts perfect passes on the tape to set up quality scoring chances.
But his pass-first mentality belies a very heavy shot, and one that will only get heavier as he adds to his frame. He has good mechanics to his shot, generates a ton of velocity, and has pretty good accuracy to go with it. He seems to prefer dangling his way to the crease for highlight-reel goals, but when that option isn’t there, he’s just as comfortable letting one fly.
While Sennecke has the height that usually gets NHL GMs out of bed, he has somewhat of a slight build at around 180 pounds as of this writing. As a result, he looks a little awkward with his skating, and can be pushed off pucks a little easier than you’d expect a player of his size to be. There is a lot of space for him to grow into his current frame, so this should become less of an issue as he continues to do that.
It must also be noted, however, that he appears to be figuring out very quickly how to use his size advantage. His forechecking improved drastically as the season went on, and he became a real problem to deal with in the corners and along the walls. Once he adds some muscle and fills out that frame, this aspect of his game should become a very prominent strength. He could end up as the exact kind of player teams hate to see against them in the playoffs – a bruising winger with skill you usually see more in smaller players.
His defensive game is also coming along quite nicely, where his length and craftiness with his stick gives him a unique level of turnover creation. This is another aspect of his game where as he continues to grow, he should improve even more, as increasing his physicality will only help him in his own zone as a professional.
There is upside with a player like Sennecke. If he continues to add to his frame, and his development goes well, he could turn into a scary top-six winger with the potential to lead a team’s top line.
Preliminary Rankings
Dobber Prospects: #11
Elite Prospects: #9
Hadi Kalakeche: #10
McKeen’s: #14
Bob McKenzie (TSN): #19
FC Hockey: #16
NHL Central Scouting: #13 (North American skaters)
Corey Pronman (The Athletic): #7
Scott Wheeler (The Athletic): #16
Sennecke was a significant riser on rankings lists, and there still isn’t much consensus as we approach draft day. He is a lock to go somewhere in the first 20 picks, and with how he’s crept into top-10 conversations, it seems safe to assume that is where he’ll hear his name called. The combination of skill and size is too tantalizing for NHL teams to think he’ll slide into the teens where some rankings still have him.
It is particularly difficult to see that happening when we know he’s been linked to the Montreal Canadiens at fifth overall. The Habs have a need at forward, particularly on the wing, and appear to covet size up front. Sennecke checks a lot of the boxes on their list, so he’d be a pick that makes a lot of sense for them and the direction they’ve tried to take their rebuild. They may have some other forwards slightly higher on their list, but if those guys are gone when the clock starts ticking, Sennecke could absolutely see himself donning the bleu, blanc, et rouge on stage.
He would not be a bad pick for the Canadiens in the slightest, if they decide to look his way. With a larger margin for error than most, and some very interesting upside, he just might be one of the best options for them depending on how the top-four shakes out.
