The Anaheim Ducks had another strong showing at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Under the leadership of general manager Pat Verbeek, the organization is building a reputation for surprising selections in the first round. The Ducks selected Ontario Hockey League (OHL) forward Beckett Sennecke, who accumulated 27 goals and 68 points in 63 games for the Oshawa Generals during the 2023-24 campaign, third overall. He also added 10 goals and 22 points across 16 playoff outings. The 18-year-old has plenty of potential to be a dynamic player at the NHL level, and he fills a positional area of need for the Ducks as a future top-line right winger.
The Ducks also made waves in the 2023 NHL Draft by taking Leo Carlsson second overall, but it didn’t take long for him to win everybody over. The team has enjoyed an excellent run while assembling one of the best prospect pools in the league. The scouting staff deserves recognition for their efforts. They haven’t been afraid to take chances and have identified players who can create a well-balanced lineup to move along the team’s rebuild.
Related: Ducks’ Surprising Selection of Sennecke Will Solidify Top-6
Much like the 2022 NHL Draft class of the Ducks, the team’s collection of prospects from 2023 stands a great chance of adding impact players. Looking back at their performances from the 2023-24 season, it is clear that the group has tremendous potential.
Leo Carlsson, C, Selected in Round 1 (No. 2 overall)
Carlsson cracked the Ducks’ roster out of training camp and scored a goal in his NHL debut versus the Dallas Stars on Oct. 19. He missed the first two games of the regular season after suffering a lower-body injury during practice. He notched eight goals and 15 points in 23 games before celebrating his 19th birthday. Carlsson wrapped up his rookie campaign with 12 goals, 17 assists, and 109 shots on target.
He missed chunks of the season due to injuries, including a 10-game absence from Dec. 23-Jan. 13 because of a sprained MCL. His workload was also reduced early as the Ducks wanted to ease him into being an NHL regular. It was a unique situation for a highly-rated prospect, but everyone involved was on board with the development plan. Carlsson had no problems showcasing his two-way potential and finished fourth among the team’s forwards in average ice time per game (18:07). He will have a permanent role in the team’s top-six group in 2024-25.
Nico Myatovic, LW, Selected in Round 2 (No. 33…
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