Several of the Ducks’ picks from their most recent draft class have come out of the gates flying.

Plenty of people were shocked at the Ducks’ selection of Beckett Sennecke with the third overall pick, with the player himself being no exception.

Sennecke’s selection kickstarted a draft class for Anaheim that targeted players of various skill sets and sizes. Several members of this class have produced consistently in the early going.

Sennecke stays hot

After a stress fracture in his right foot during off-ice training this past summer halted him from getting a full NHL training camp under his belt, Sennecke has built off his strong 2023-24 campaign since returning to the Oshawa Generals. He is currently averaging more than a point per game and is in the top 10 in goals in the OHL.

His chemistry with the recently acquired Colby Barlow and the return of Calum Ritchie after a short stint with the Colorado Avalanche has given the Generals plenty of firepower up top. Sennecke is still adjusting to his long frame after a growth spurt that saw him add five inches in height over two years.

“I was a smaller player in minor midget and I kind of had to play a small person’s game,” Sennecke said during his post-draft interview. “Now, I’m kind of growing and I’m still able to have those learning experiences from when I was a small kid. I’m a small person’s player in a big person’s body.”

Procyszyn putting up points

Another draftee from the OHL, Ethan Procyszyn was selected by the Ducks in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. While there have been questions about how high his ceiling is, Procyszyn currently ranks top-5 in the OHL in goals. His nose for the net has seen him repeatedly score goals from the same area, right around the crease, and showcases some of his strengths.

A physical player with a high motor, Procyszyn is seen as more of a checking forward who can cause havoc when the puck is deep in the opposition’s zone. He possesses some traits that can translate to a bottom-6 role and it’s just a matter of improving other areas of his game to make him a more complete player.

Smith steals the show

A member of CCM’s Team of the Month for September/October, Tarin Smith uses his combination of skating and puck skills to generate offense. Current Ducks defenseman and former teammate of Smith’s, Olen Zellweger uses some of the same traits.

With 23 points in 20 games, Smith is top-5 among WHL defensemen in goals and points. He isn’t the most physical presence, but he has plenty of time to add to his frame and become a stronger defender, much like Zellweger did.

Blais making plays

He’ll never be mistaken for the biggest player on the ice, but the 5-foot-10 Alexandre Blais can still put up points. The winger sits just outside the QMJHL’s top 10 in points while playing on Rimouski Océanic’s top line.

“I'm not the biggest, but I'm not scared to go into corners and win battles,” Blais said during his post-draft interview. That fearlessness to win pucks back in the dirty areas was on display during September’s Rookie Faceoff Tournament, where he played alongside puck hounds like Nico Myatovic, Maxim Massé and Coulson Pitre

When those pucks are won back, Blais can find soft space—whether with a pass or by carving it out himself with movement—and create offensive opportunities.

Late-round picks paying dividends

The Ducks used their final two picks of the 2024 NHL Draft to select forward Austin Burnevik and defenseman Darels Uljanskis. Burnevik was coming off a 40-goal season with the Madison Capitols in the USHL while Uljanskis has been plying his trade with AIK’s J20 club.

Burnevik has earned two NCHC Rookie of the Week honors in the early going, helping provide offense for St. Cloud State. His skating still needs to be refined, but his goalscoring ability has been on display.

Uljanskis has 12 points in 19 games thus far. While he isn’t flashy by any means, he has good mobility and can activate offensively when called upon.

Note: Maxim Massé was off to a blistering start in the QMJHL with nine points (six goals, three assists) in five games, but a sprained ankle had kept him out for the past six weeks. He made his return to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens' lineup today.