The Anaheim Ducks are stuck in the middle of the pond. Their playoff drought has now extended to six seasons, on the back of continuously disappointing play from the team’s veterans. The Ducks now seem fully focused on building a new identity – one built around hard-hitting defensemen, shoot-first forwards, and new head coach Greg Cronin.
Their moves this summer reflected that personality-building – though a quiet summer elsewhere will keep their expectations low for the 2024-25 season. Draft 1-3: F Beckett Sennecke , Oshawa (OHL) 1-23: D Stian Solberg , Vålerenga (Norway) 2-35: F Lucas Pettersson MoDo Hockey (Sweden) 3-66: F Maxim Massé , Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 3-68: F Ethan Procyszyn , North Bay (OHL) 3-79: D Tarin Smith , Everett (WHL) 4-100: Alexandre Blais , Rimouski (QMJHL) 6-182: F Austin Burnevik , Madison (USHL) 7-214: D Darels Uljanskis , AIK (Sweden) The Ducks took their turn in the spotlight in June, vindicating their rebuilding with yet another fantastic draft class. They started their haul with one of the draft’s biggest surprises, taking Sennecke – this year’s late riser – at third overall.
While the pick shocked many – including Sennecke himself – general manager Pat Verbeek insisted it fit the personality-building Anaheim is striving for. He shared post-draft that, “[Sennecke] is going to be a guy who can play any type of game, a physical game, a skill game or a speed game.” That same sentiment can be applied to hard-hitting defenseman S.