Speculation: With the third pick in the 2024 NHL draft the Anaheim Ducks select...(Draft is June 28th @ 4pm PT. ESPN. ESPN+)

[JAHV]

For the record, I have no problem if we take Silayev. I'm not a prospect hound like some others are here, but he actually concerns me less than Levshunov (although that might be because he's had less exposure here). But it is fairly uncommon for #3OA picks not to contribute in their first two years after being drafted. And there is a chance, if the Ducks take major steps forward, they'll wish their pick was available the season after next.

But the Ducks are building for the long-term. Even if they break out and make the playoffs in 25-26, they should still be in contention in 26-27 when Silayev would be ready to join them.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

The worry with him has nothing to do with what he has done on the ice. It's a scary lack of control with a really important pick for us.

Oh no, that part I completely understand, even if I’m more optimistic. But in other spaces, and here too given how so many see it as an underwhelming choice, I rarely see much about the Russian factor and more about him as a player.

 

[Static]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800579842611822829

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800579842611822829

I've said this elsewhere but if that kid ends up being a chip off the old block I'd take him with no hesitation and not look back.

 

[tomd]

I've said this elsewhere but if that kid ends up being a chip off the old block I'd take him with no hesitation and not look back.

Would he be worth trading Zegras for?

 

[Terry Yake]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800579842611822829

if they don't go D and are scared off from lindstrom because of his health, i could see iginla being the pick

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Would he be worth trading Zegras for?

Old man Iggy? Absolutely. Unproven draft pick Iggy?......eh, not so much.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

With Igor Larionov as his coach I’m not worried.

Can you expound? My concern is that the KHL won't care about his NHL development and only utilize him in a way that benefits the KHL club, not unlike the SHL.

 

[Anarchynate]

Sennecke 6-2.75 / 182. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s top 5. He is trending way up. My favorite player of the draft.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Can you expound? My concern is that the KHL won't care about his NHL development and only utilize him in a way that benefits the KHL club, not unlike the SHL.

The team always has to come first but if there’s any KHL coach who has a player’s NHL development in mind it might just be the professor. He was a major trailblazer in getting the Soviet Union to allow Russians to play in the NHL and with Silayev he seems very concerned with making him a better player.

There’s also definitely no worry about a lack of opportunity, Larionov is in love with him. He actually wanted to play him as a 16 year old but it’s against the rules. He might be a top pair guy for them next year.

 

[tomd]

Can you expound? My concern is that the KHL won't care about his NHL development and only utilize him in a way that benefits the KHL club, not unlike the SHL.

Fair question. A few reasons:
1. He is the same Larionov who won 3 SC's with Detroit and is in the NHL HOF. He knows the west, knows the NHL, and probably knows guys like Verbeek.
2. He's a pretty good coach taking over a Torpedo team a couple of years ago and getting them into the playoffs the last couple of years.
3. Unlike other KHL teams, he seems to put a lot of trust in kids and play them a lot. In addition to Silayev, Nikita Artamonov is also on the team and is likely going to be a top 40 draft selection this year.
4. He was a very cerebral player and I assume that has carried over to his coaching. He can teach guys like Silayev the finer aspects of the game and perhaps bring out his offensive talents in the next couple of years.

IMO, it is a perfect situation for Silayev to be in for the next couple of years if he has to play anywhere outside of N/A.

 

[Static]

Sennecke 6-2.75 / 182. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s top 5. He is trending way up. My favorite player of the draft.

I have wondered if he pulls a Mac and just keeps rising. I feel like that is just as much of an indictment on the top dmen though. It doesn't feel like anyone is truly comfortable with any of these guys.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I have wondered if he pulls a Mac and just keeps rising. I feel like that is just as much of an indictment on the top dmen though. It doesn't feel like anyone is truly comfortable with any of these guys.

This years been weird. Been a few guys with obvious late-rising trendlines(Buium, Iginla, Sennecke) but then it kinda just stopped despite everything after 1 being unpredictable. Maybe that’s part of why but it’s kind of weird. If the Panthers can sweep it’ll be very interesting to see the direction draft discourse takes.

 

[FiveTacos]

I could definitely see Lindstrom fitting right in with our young core (because like them he’s always injured).

Good player though, maybe a little too much overlap with McTavish.

Isn't he bigger and faster than McT?

 

[Static]

Isn't he bigger and faster than McT?

He's taller, but not bigger. Mac has a better shot and played a more pro style game proven against men in Switzerland.

Sennecke has more skill and better hands. Huge ceiling on him, some off-ice questions. Incredibly, he was only 5'10" in 2022. 6'3" now.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Here's a top-5 Defensive (shutdown) d-men draft prospect ranking with scouting reports, and honorable mentions.



#1. LD Dickinson (around 23:42)
#2. LD Silayev (around 19:02)
#3. RD Lev
#4. LD Solberg
#5. RD Emery

HM: RD Elick, LD Zeev Buium, LD Will Skahan, RD Spencer Gill, RD Tomas Lavoie

 

[tomd]

I copied this from the main prospects board from a poster named Caser who lives in Latvia and annually scouts all the Russian prospects in great detail. He rated Silayev #1 above Demidov. Interestingly, his take is very different from the video above in terms of thinking the game. Given that he lives in Russia (or close enough) I think his opinion is well worth giving considerable weight to. He would consider him at 2OA despite mediocre offensive skills.

1. LHD Anton Silayev
While everyone keeps mentioning how well Anton Silayev skates for a 6’7” guy, for me what stands out even more than that is how smart he is – in his debut season on the KHL level he has been almost flawless in terms of the positional game, for me that’s something pretty much unseen. Naturally for a big kid like him a lot of stuff should still be worked on, he will need quite some time for that too, but the only long-term concern I see in him is the rather mediocre puck skills, I doubt that it can be improved too much (which is also why I’m not a fan of the Victor Hedman comparison), therefore overall his attacking upside is doubtful, aside from the powerful shot, of course. With that being said if I’m an NHL GM, I wouldn’t be hesitating much to take him at 2nd this year, he looks that good to me.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Sennecke 6-2.75 / 182. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s top 5. He is trending way up. My favorite player of the draft.

Yeah, I read up on some saying he's skyrocketing due to his last 2 months of regular season play. So I looked into it.

Sennecke
Season	Games	G	A	Pts	PPG	+/-
D+0	63​	27​	41​	68​	1.08​	33​
Oct-Jan	42​	15​	24​	39​	0.93​	16​
Feb-Mar	21​	12​	17​	29​	1.38​	17​
.
Playoffs	16​	10​	12​	22​	1.38​	9​

He had a jump in the last two months, but it didn't look like a huge jump. So I looked where he started getting hot in the Feb-Mar set (21 games) and did a split.

Sennecke	Last 21 games	splits
Season	Games	G	A	Pts	PPG	+/-
Las 21 games	21​	12​	17​	29​	1.38​	17​
First 9	9​	5​	2​	7​	0.78​	-2​
Last 12 games	12​	7​	15​	22​	1.83​	19​

Sennecke did go on a tear in the last 12 games, but that's such a small sample. Also, that high end offense didn't follow him to the playoffs. He did hit a 1.57 with 22 points in 14 games, but was shutout in game 15 and 16, where the latter is when he got injured as well as no longer available for the rest of the playoffs. That caused the ppg rate to drop from 1.57 to 1.38.

He's taller, but not bigger. Mac has a better shot and played a more pro style game proven against men in Switzerland.

Sennecke has more skill and better hands. Huge ceiling on him, some off-ice questions. Incredibly, he was only 5'10" in 2022. 6'3" now.

Sennecke is harder to project due to that significant growth spurt. It'll take some time for him to get accustomed to longer limbs. Then there's also the possibility if he's still growing. The potential for more is there, but his OHL history for two seasons doesn't show a huge enough jump. Maybe part of the reason is Sennecke getting used to his body for several months.

Would I take him over Lindstrom? Due to my limited viewing of each prospect, probably not. But If I had been following Sennecke's game for two seasons and saw tremendous growth on his part all along, then it's possible... it's just that 12-game sample of nearly 2.00 ppg is such a short sample.

One positive item I'd like to point out when seeing videos of Sennecke is the way he wriggles his body to manipulate the puck reminds me of Corey Perry. His movements are Gumby-like and impressed he could do that. But I think Perry was more durable.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I copied this from the main prospects board from a poster named Caser who lives in Latvia and annually scouts all the Russian prospects in great detail. He rated Silayev #1 above Demidov. Interestingly, his take is very different from the video above in terms of thinking the game. Given that he lives in Russia (or close enough) I think his opinion is well worth giving considerable weight to. He would consider him at 2OA despite mediocre offensive skills.

1. LHD Anton Silayev
While everyone keeps mentioning how well Anton Silayev skates for a 6’7” guy, for me what stands out even more than that is how smart he is – in his debut season on the KHL level he has been almost flawless in terms of the positional game, for me that’s something pretty much unseen. Naturally for a big kid like him a lot of stuff should still be worked on, he will need quite some time for that too, but the only long-term concern I see in him is the rather mediocre puck skills, I doubt that it can be improved too much (which is also why I’m not a fan of the Victor Hedman comparison), therefore overall his attacking upside is doubtful, aside from the powerful shot, of course. With that being said if I’m an NHL GM, I wouldn’t be hesitating much to take him at 2nd this year, he looks that good to me.

Just hoping that chicago feels the same way

 

[tomd]

Just hoping that chicago feels the same way

I think Levshunov makes much more sense for Chicago as an all around puck moving RHD. That's a big need for them and their left side already has some huge guys. I think the Ducks will be choosing from Silayev, Dickinson, and Lindstrom. I wouldn't be disappointed with any of them.

 

[AngelDuck]

There are literally 10 players I’d take over Levshunov.

Please take him Chicago!

I think we end up with Dickinson or Silayev which I’m fine with

 

[Static]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800684580879610213

 

[Trojans86]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800531324924739622

Man, in a few years? I get the potential, but it would be a bit of a gut punch.

Love the boxing. Going to be a dominant enforcer if he is decent at boxing. I’d take this guy in a heartbeat.

 

[Rasp]

Love the boxing. Going to be a dominant enforcer if he is decent at boxing. I’d take this guy in a heartbeat.

He is the type of guy who is only going to have 1 fight in his career. After that everyone will respect him

 

[Trojans86]

I could honestly be talked into about 7 guys. I just want us to go d because I trust Madden picking d over f.