2024 NHL Draft Will Be Held At Sphere In Vegas Friday & Saturday
In the Seattle Kraken prospect garden, forwards are blooming like crazy. Jagger Firkus, David Goyette, Carson Rehkopf, Jani Nyman, Oscar-Fisker Molgaard, Lleyton Roed, etc., etc.
That's why many draft experts think the Kraken will go for a defenseman with the 8th pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, June 28 in Las Vegas.
Brock Otten, in a mock draft for McKeen's Hockey, says "Not so fast."
When it's Seattle GM Ron Francis' turn inside Sphere in Vegas, Otten predicts the name called will be Beckett Sennecke, a right wing from the OHL's Oshawa Generals.
"There is a ton of traction for Sennecke to be a high pick and Seattle strikes us as a likely landing spot. They’ve targeted the OHL pretty heavily and, playing in the Pacific, they want to load up their lineup with heavier players who can withstand the punishing style in the division."
The Toronto native scored 27 goals and 68 points in 63 regular season games for the Generals. Sennecke ramped his game up another notch in the postseason, with 10 goals and 22 points in 16 playoff games.
"Sennecke oozes upside as an athletic winger still growing into his frame," McKeen's Otten adds. "He is skilled, physical, and intelligent. A great combination. Logic says Seattle finally uses their first on a defender, but something about this spot screams Sennecke."
For comparison, in The Hockey News 2024 Draft Preview issue, Sennecke is listed as the 12th best prospect in editor-in-chief Ryan Kennedy's rankings.
In his writeup on Sennecke, Kennedy quotes an NHL scout: "He was 5-foot-10 last year and almost 6-foot-3 now.
"Once he fills out, he's going to be a beast. He's a beast now. He's so creative, so smart and has such soft hands. He may be a better center (than winger)."
Editor's Note: McKeen's mock draft had Seattle taking Sennecke because they predict defenseman Sam Dickinson would have already been selected.
What if he wasn't? We discuss Dickinson to the Kraken in this space later today.