C Beckett Sennecke - Oshawa Generals, OHL (2024, 3rd, ANA)

[Garbageyuk]

I'll say that in today's NHL, being "physical" isn't really required. With the kind of NHL game that's being played today, players who are the most effective aren't the "physical" ones.

Sennecke can take a hit or can dish a hit. I don't think the Ducks are too worried about that aspect of the game. He'll have to get stronger and hit the gym, for sure, but that's true for most prospects.

Oshawa was 36-20 with him in the lineup, and 5-7 without him. Small sample size without him, but still a good difference.

All players have their flaws. Also, as much as people like to see high point-per-game ratios in juniors, opponents and players use vary so much in junior that the variation isn't just skill-based, but often circumstantial to what team/conference the player plays for. Plus, players who use their size well in juniors tend to have higher PPGs that don't translate because in the NHL they lose that advantage. At least, that won't be Sennecke's situation.

It seems like you think “physical” just means hitting exclusively. That is not the case.

Hitting is one aspect of physicality, but it is probably the least important one. Physicality also includes things like leveraging your body to win board battles or gain position, taking hits and abuse to get to the dirty areas or to make plays, or using physical strength or your frame for these things. Driving to the net through contact or crashing the net are other important ones, as is camping in front a la Holmstrom, for example.

Crosby is a physical player (grinds in the corners and plays in the dirty areas), but not a big hitter. Gallagher is a physical player (takes abuse playing in the dirty areas), but not a big hitter. Jagr was a physical player (leveraged his body to drive to the net, make plays, and gain advantages), but not a big hitter.

Sennecke doesn’t do any of this stuff consistently (or at all). He prefers to play a finesse game from the perimeter and uses fancy puck handling and skating to get where he wants to go. His game off the puck is nearly non-existent, and he isn’t good defensively.

Some players can get away with playing like that in the NHL, but they are extremely rare, and they are usually not very conducive to winning. Exceptions would be guys like Patrick Kane, Kucherov, and of course Gretzky. Needless to say, Sennecke probably isn’t that type of talent. Even Marner, as much as he gets shit for being a perimeter player, is at least decent defensively and isn’t a turnover machine like Sennecke.

I don’t think Sennecke is at all skilled enough to get by on just that at the NHL level - he is going to need to develop some of these other areas in his game to be effective in the NHL because the plays he’s used to making in the OHL aren’t going to be there in the NHL for him unless he does.

He’s got a lot of work to do in these other areas, and unfortunately this year it doesn’t look like he’s taken any significant strides in them.

 

[PAZ]

I'd say the ones winning Stanley Cups are.

The best recipe for going deep in the playoffs is a high tempo, heavy brand of hockey. So although you don't need all your players playing this way it certainly helps the overall cause. If accumulating points is the goal you are probably right, if going deep in the playoffs is the goal I'm not so sure.

Role players, sure.

But very few star players (which Sennecke is projected to be) play a physical brand of hockey because it's not sustainable for 99% of players. If you look at the SC winning team's core, most of them don't play the way you're alluding to. They need to learn how to play through physicality and increase their intensity, but neither of those are attributed to a physical or heavy brand of hockey.

 

[PlayersLtd]

Role players, sure.

But very few star players (which Sennecke is projected to be) play a physical brand of hockey because it's not sustainable for 99% of players. If you look at the SC winning team's core, most of them don't play the way you're alluding to. They need to learn how to play through physicality and increase their intensity, but neither of those are attributed to a physical or heavy brand of hockey.

Intensity is key but there's also a big difference between the Mark Stone's of this world and the Mitch Marners. One will initiate contact, take abuse, push back, willingly grind through checks, hold his own in a melee and is actually capable of wearing a team down physically without being a notoriously punishing player. The other is not wired to do that.

The difference between those styles of play may not be so measurable in the regular season but it sure is in a playoff stretch. Especially so when you factor in how it rubs off on teammates.

Not saying anything about Sennecke here, just responding to the poster who said physicality isn't important in today's game. For the sake of the game, thankfully that just isn't true. You are always at an advantage if you play a heavy brand of hockey. But yes, intensity is a huge part of that.

 

[Static]

This kid certainly seems to elicit some extreme opinions, and out of nowhere.

 

[nbducksfan19]

I am gonna go ahead and put some trust in perhaps the best (certainly top 5) drafting teams in the NHL, until proven otherwise...

Especially from some Montreal fans who seem to have turned to glorifying Demidov as a weird "passing on Michov" defense mechanism.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Especially from some Montreal fans who seem to have turned to glorifying Demidov as a weird "passing on Michov" defense mechanism.

Where did I talk about Demidov?

 

[nbducksfan19]

Where did I talk about Demidov?

You Projecting or something? Where did I say I was talking about you?

However, there sure seems to be a strong undercurrent of MTL fans hating on Sennecke to make themselves feel better about Demidov....to make themselves feel better about passing on Michov. Fascinating really.

 

[Garbageyuk]

You Projecting or something? Where did I say I was talking about you?

However, there sure seems to be a strong undercurrent of MTL fans hating on Sennecke to make themselves feel better about Demidov....to make themselves feel better about passing on Michov. Fascinating really.

You said Habs fans were talking about Demidov in this thread. None of the people who brought up Demidov in the last few pages of this thread are Habs fans. In fact, most are Ducks fans, including you. Funny how you mentioned projection lol.

 

[nbducksfan19]

You said Habs fans were talking about Demidov in this thread. None of the people who brought up Demidov in the last few pages of this thread are Habs fans. In fact, most are Ducks fans, including you. Funny how you mentioned projection lol.

Buddy, this thread is 35 pages long - I was talking about it in totality.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Buddy, this thread is 35 pages long - I was talking about it in totality.

Buddy, most of the people bringing up Demidov here are Ducks fans, which I will point out again, includes you. Most of the remainder are not Habs fans. You acting like Habs fans are flooding in here to talk about their own guy is complete BS. This is just nothing more than you desperately trying to discredit opinions you don’t like.

 

[Kalv]

Hot takes about him per 60 are elite. Imagine him on a line with Zegras – some fans will watch the games with full vains sticking out on the forhead

 

[LuGBuG]

Buddy, this thread is 35 pages long - I was talking about it in totality.

That fella has a clear agenda he just thinks he’s smarter and won’t acknowledge it.

 

[Garbageyuk]

That fella has a clear agenda he just thinks he’s smarter and won’t acknowledge it.

What’s the agenda? You’ve still yet to tell me. Are you gonna answer the bell for your earlier claims? You never did. Show me.

 

[LuGBuG]

What’s the agenda? You’ve still yet to tell me. Are you gonna answer the bell for your earlier claims? You never did. Show me.

Answer the bell LOL. I don’t need to appease you. Everyone else knows what I’m talking about

 

[Garbageyuk]

Answer the bell LOL. I don’t need to appease you. Everyone else knows what I’m talking about

You don’t have to “appease” me, but you’re willing to continually take the time out of your day to make bullshit claims because you’re only interested in whining, rather than putting forth any argument of your own. This is like the 5th time you’ve tail-tucked instead of backing up your BS claims. Like I said, if you don’t like an opinion, and you can’t or are unwilling to come up up with any counterpoints or arguments of your own, just ignore it, instead of cluttering up the thread with this whiny BS that adds nothing to the discussion.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Indeed, the Sennecke on Dickinson goal was what made the highlight reel. But Dickinson played him extremely well the rest of the game to the point that Sennecke was a non-factor.

Sennecke plays an extremely junior-style game right now. Betting in elite talent often works out, but this guy is a ways from being an effective NHL player.

A non-factor? He had 3 points that game lmao

Everyone in here is so desperate to defend their own teams' picks or talk about other players in individual players' threads, it's hilarious.

 

[Juxtaposer]

A non-factor? He had 3 points that game lmao

Everyone in here is so desperate to defend their own teams' picks or talk about other players in individual players' threads, it's hilarious.

Did you watch that game? Or are you just stat-watching.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Did you watch that game? Or are you just stat-watching.

I didn't watch it. But factoring into 3 goals is the literal definition of being a factor in a game.

Maybe Dickinson did do a good job. But you calling him a non-factor is example #890750359 on HFBoards of posters having to put down other teams' picks to make themselves feel better about their own.

The only people who are upset with the Ducks taking Sennecke are non-Ducks fans.

 

[Garbageyuk]

A non-factor? He had 3 points that game lmao

Everyone in here is so desperate to defend their own teams' picks or talk about other players in individual players' threads, it's hilarious.

It’s Ducks fans that are talking about other team’s picks the most. We are here to talk about Sennecke, it’s just we aren’t saying what you all want us to say, so you’re attempting to shift the narrative to deflect from any criticism or honest analysis about you player.

The criticisms with Sennecke are valid. Tell me what he does well aside from scoring, which he isn’t even elite at for his age group or draft class.

•He is not good defensively.
•He does not engage physically.
•His game off the puck is virtually non/existent.
•He plays on the perimeter and tries to finesse into scoring chances every shift.
•As a result of the above, he’s a turnover machine.
•He was outperformed and outscored in the OHL this year by several players who were drafted after him.
•He did not improve any of his weak areas this year; instead, he only marginally improved in the one area he’s good at.
•Even when it comes to scoring, he’s wildly inconsistent - 20+ of his points this year came in an 8 game stretch, and last year, over half his production came in the final 3 months of the season.

Tell me which of the above points is not true? I’d like to hear it. Like I said, he’s got a lot of work to do in every area of the game other than scoring. Pointing out these facts or discussing them isn’t an “agenda”.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

It’s Ducks fans that are talking about other team’s picks the most. We are here to talk about Sennecke, it’s just we aren’t saying what you all want us to say, so you’re attempting to shift the narrative to deflect from any criticism or honest analysis about you player.

The criticisms with Sennecke are valid. Tell me what he does well aside from scoring, which he isn’t even elite at for his age group or draft class.

•He is not good defensively.
•He does not engage physically.
•His game off the puck is virtually non/existent.
•He plays on the perimeter and tries to finesse into scoring chances every shift.
•As a result of the above, he’s a turnover machine.
•He was outperformed and outscored in the OHL this year by several players who were drafted after him.
•He did not improve any of his weak areas this year; instead, he only marginally improved in the one area he’s good at.
•Even when it comes to scoring, he’s wildly inconsistent - 20+ of his points this year came in an 8 game stretch, and last year, over half his production came in the final 3 months of the season.

Tell me which of the above points is not true? I’d like to hear it. Like I said, he’s got a lot of work to do in every area of the game other than scoring. Pointing out these facts or discussing them isn’t an “agenda”.

I'll just the repeat the sentiment I said above: if you're not a Ducks fan, why the f*** do you care? Why would I need to justify a decision that I made no part in?

I'm not a GM, I'm not a scout. Unlike you, I don't pretend to be.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I'll just the repeat the sentiment I said above: if you're not a Ducks fan, why the f*** do you care?

Because we are hockey fans, and this is forum to discuss hockey.

Why would I need to justify a decision that I made no part in?

No one said you did, but you’re here whining about other people’s opinions, so here we are.

I'm not a GM, I'm not a scout. Unlike you, I don't pretend to be.

Show me where I pretended to be anything. I expressed my opinion. Again, this is a hockey forum - that’s kind of the point.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Because we are hockey fans, and this is forum to discuss hockey.

No one said you did, but you’re here whining about other people’s opinions, so here we are.

Show me where I pretended to be anything. I expressed my opinion. Again, this is a hockey forum - that’s kind of the point.

I really hope the Habs see your hard work in this thread. Maybe they'll bring you on the staff.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I really hope the Habs see your hard work in this thread. Maybe they'll bring you on the staff.

Its the Luneau thread all over again lol

 

[Static]

It’s Ducks fans that are talking about other team’s picks the most. We are here to talk about Sennecke, it’s just we aren’t saying what you all want us to say, so you’re attempting to shift the narrative to deflect from any criticism or honest analysis about you player.

The criticisms with Sennecke are valid. Tell me what he does well aside from scoring, which he isn’t even elite at for his age group or draft class.

•He is not good defensively.
•He does not engage physically.
•His game off the puck is virtually non/existent.
•He plays on the perimeter and tries to finesse into scoring chances every shift.
•As a result of the above, he’s a turnover machine.
•He was outperformed and outscored in the OHL this year by several players who were drafted after him.
•He did not improve any of his weak areas this year; instead, he only marginally improved in the one area he’s good at.
•Even when it comes to scoring, he’s wildly inconsistent - 20+ of his points this year came in an 8 game stretch, and last year, over half his production came in the final 3 months of the season.

Tell me which of the above points is not true? I’d like to hear it. Like I said, he’s got a lot of work to do in every area of the game other than scoring. Pointing out these facts or discussing them isn’t an “agenda”.

The thing is, actual scouts disagree with a lot of the subjectivity in this post. Just reading his scouting evaluation from the black book from last year contradicts many, if not all of the hyperbolic opinions you have here.

I'm sorry, but I trust professional scouts' opinions much more than yours, random forum person. That isn't to say that you aren't free to express it here, but it is odd how loudly you feel compelled to do so.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

The thing is, actual scouts disagree with a lot of the subjectivity in this post. Just reading his scouting evaluation from the black book from last year contradicts many, if not all of the hyperbolic opinions you have here.

I'm sorry, but I trust professional scouts' opinions much more than yours, random forum person. That isn't to say that you aren't free to express it here, but it is odd how loudly you feel compelled to do so.

But you don't understand - he never said he was pretending to be a scout, so clearly he isn't.