For the 2024 NFL Draft, Anaheim Ducks selected 9 players and had the 3rd overall pick. So who did the Ducks draft and who are they?
Round 1, #3 overall: Right Wing - Beckett Sennecke
This was surprising as not many thought Sennecke would be drafted that high, not even Sennecke himself believed it when the camera showed his reaction. But does that make him a bad pick? No. Sennecke is a late bloomer as his draft value went up higher and higher throughout the year. Sennecke (6-2, 182-pounds, 18 years old), scored 27-41=68 points with 33 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +33 rating in 63 games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2023-24. He led Oshawa in game-winning goals (7), shots (207), ranked second in plus minus, third in scoring, fourth in assists and fifth in goals. What really made Sennecke valuable was his playoff performance. He led all draft eligible skaters in goals and points during the 2024 OHL Playoffs, scoring 10-12=22 points with a +9 rating in 18 postseason games. Among all OHL Playoff leaders, he ranked tied for fourth in goals and tied for eighth in points. Pretty impressive and interesting pick for the Ducks.
Round 1, #23 overall: Defenseman - Stian Solberg
Ducks traded up for the 23rd pick on draft day. They clearly couldn't wait and didn't want to lose out on Solberg. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek described Solberg as “Radko Gudas but three inches taller.." He is also described as “the most violent player in the 2024 NHL Draft." Like Sennecke, Solberg's draft value went up recently. Stolberg (6-2, 205-pound, 18 years old) scored 5-10=15 points with 47 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +2 rating in 42 games with Valerenga of the Eliteserien, Norway’s top professional league, finishing first in scoring among all skaters aged 18 or younger. His 15 points are also the fourth-most by a defenseman 18 or younger in league history. Solberg also represented Norway at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he recorded 1-1=2 points and four PIM in five games, and the 2014 IIHF World Championships, where he tallied 2-1=3 points with eight PIM in seven games. Not bad. Solberg is set to play in Sweden next season but can play for the Ducks after that.
Round 2, #35 overall: Forward - Lucas Pettersson
Pettersson, (6-foot, 173-pounds, 18 years old) scored 27-30=57 points with 40 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +27 rating in 44 games for MoDo Jr. in the Swedish junior league. His 27 goals ranked third among league leaders, while his 57 points ranked 10th. He also skated in five games with MoDo of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
In 73 career games for MoDo Jr, Pettersson recorded 32-44=76 points with a +32 rating. For the Sweden national team, he helped them win bronze at the 2024 U-18 World Championship, where he tallied 3-5=8 points, including the bronze-winning goal, with 10 PIM and a +3 rating in seven games.
Round 3, #66 overall: Right Wing - Maxim Masse
Masse, (6-foot-3, 190-pounds, 18 years old), recorded 36-39=75 points with 26 PIM in 67 games for Chicoutimi of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), leading the Sagueneens in goals and points. Masse was named the Mike Bossy Award winner in 2023-24, given to the top professional prospect in the QMJHL. Masse also posted 3-3=6 points in eight QMJHL Playoff games.
Round 3, #68 overall: Center - Ethan Procyszyn
Procyszyn, (6-foot-3, 190-pounds, 17 years old), earned 15-21=36 points with 67 PIM and a +2 rating in 62 games for North Bay of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He helped lead the Battalion to the OHL Eastern Conference Finals after recording 2-4=6 points with 14 PIM and a +3 rating in 16 OHL Playoff games.
Round 3, #79 overall: Defenseman - Tarin Smith
Smith, (6-foot-2, 187-pounds,18 years old), led all Western Hockey League (WHL) rookie defenseman in scoring after posting 8-36=44 points with 66 PIM and a +26 rating in 67 games for Everett. He was named to the CHL All-Rookie team and led Everett blueliners in points. He also earned 1-4=5 points with 10 PIM and a +5 rating in eight WHL Playoff games. Smith debuted for the Silvertips as a 15-year-old in 2021-22, where he skated in three regular season contests and one WHL Playoff contest.
Round 4, #100 overall: Center - Alexandre Blais
Blais, (5-foot-10, 152-pounds, 18 year old), led Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL in points and assists after recording 24-60=84 points with 40 PIM and a +2 rating in 68 games in 2023-24. Blais ranked second among QMJHL skaters in assists, sixth in points and ninth in points-per-game (1.24). He also tallied 1-5=6 points in five QMJHL playoff games for Rimouski. In 153 career QMJHL games since 2021-22, Blais has recorded 33-101=134 points, 60 PIM and a +6 rating. He has also tallied 4-11=15 points in 21 career QMJHL playoff games.
Round 6, #182 overall: Right Wing - Austin Burnevik
Burnevik, (6-foot-4, 195-pounds, 19 years old), led the Madison Capitals of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in scoring and goals, posting 40-31=71 points with 24 PIM and a +21 rating in 61 games this season. A Ham Lake, Minn. native, he ranked second among USHL skaters in goals and tied for seventh in points. He also scored twice (2-0=2) in three USHL playoff games. In 125 career USHL games with Madison and the USNTDP Juniors, Burnevik has earned 53-43=96 points with 42 PIM.
Round 7, #214 overall: Defenseman - Darels Uljanskis
Uljanskis, (6-foot-2, 194-pounds, 17 year old), tallied 11-18=29 points with 20 PIM and a +1 rating in 45 games with AIK Jr. in Sweden’s top junior league. A Latvia native, Uljanskis also posted 2-1=3 points in two Sweden-Jr. playoff games. Uljanskis has recorded 14-18=32 points, 22 PIM and a +2 rating in 49 career Sweden-Jr. games with AIK Jr.
So there you have it, the 2024 Anaheim Ducks draft class! Let's see how they do as the Ducks future.
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