The Rising Prospect the Devils Could Draft in the First Round

The Devils have known for the past month that they will select 10th overall in June’s NHL Draft. What they don’t know is who that will be.

We’ve taken a stab at mocking who they could possibly take when they step on stage at The Sphere in Las Vegas. We also know they may not even make the pick, with Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald stating his willingness to move it.

If they do decide to stick and pick, Fitzgerald and his staff will have plenty of good options at 10. However, one late-rising prospect that continues to be mocked to the Devils is Oshawa Generals winger, Beckett Sennecke.

Most recently, Corey Pronman of The Athletic mocked Sennecke to the Devils.

“Sennecke’s stock is on the rise sharply upwards, and there’s a solid chance he’s going to be a top 10 pick on draft day due to his elite skill, on top of being 6-foot-2 and a good skater,” said Pronman in his latest mock draft. “In an ideal world, many believe New Jersey would prefer a center or defenseman with size here, but the way the board played out Sennecke becomes the clear best option for them.”

Since the start of the season, there may be no one who has shot up more in the draft rankings than Sennecke. In his first prospect rankings back in November, Sennecke was unranked on Pronman’s board. His Athletic counterpart, Scott Wheeler had him as the 32nd-ranked prospect in his first prospect rankings.

Then there’s Bob McKenzie, whose prospect rankings are not opinion based, but rather a polling of one-third of NHL scouts. In his preseason rankings, Sennecke was not on the list. By mid-season, he had shot up to 19. His most previous rankings have Sennecke at 14. It’s safe to say that Beckett Sennecke has put together a heck of a season.

What’s made Sennecke such a fast riser up the draft boards is his elite puck skills, ability to make plays at full speed, and NHL-caliber shot. He also boasts a sturdy 6-foot-2 frame to match his soft skills, a combination that GMs salivate over.

Beckett Sennecke went dancing 🕺

The #NHLDraft prospect weaved through the Battalion to grab a commanding 4-1 lead for the @Oshawa_Generals!#OHLPlayoffs | #OSHvsNB pic.twitter.com/OD4ySzy6Hb

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 30, 2024

For the Devils, Sennecke makes a ton of sense. There is still a hole at top-six winger that has yet to be filled, with not much promise coming in the prospect pipeline. Sennecke’s elite skills as a puck handler and shooter make him the perfect compliment on either Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes‘ wing. He offers a bigger body who can win his 1v1 matchups, as well as play with pace in transition. Outside of his pure skill, Fitzgerald will love his frame, and he’ll only grow stronger the older he gets.

Luckily for the Devils, a blue chip prospect will fall into their lap when they pick 10th. There could be a top defenseman or a high-end center sitting there, but the fast-rising Sennecke will certainly be in play if he remains on the board.

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