Ducks receive unfortunate injury update for No. 3 overall pick

The Anaheim Ducks need to finish their rebuild soon. The Ducks drafted Beckett Sennecke third overall to help them do that in 2024. Just weeks before training camp, they received the brutal news that the forward is injured. Sennecke will be out for six to eight weeks with a broken foot, according to NHL.com.

The Ducks surprised many by taking Sennecke so high in the draft. They were lured by his 68 points in 61 games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. He fits the Ducks' forward unit mold very well, as they have plenty of centers to run the offense but need wingers to finish, so they took Sennecke at number three.

The young core is led by Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras and Cutter Gauthier, all of whom played center in their amateur careers. While Zegras also played wing in the pros, the Ducks were smart enough to take a high-scoring winger in the draft. Sennecke probably won't make the team in 2024, but he will be important in the future.

The Ducks should make a push for a playoff spot this season. With their young core gaining experience and John Gibson still in goal, they could do well in the Western Conference. What can fans expect from their top players in the 2024-25 season?

Ducks expectations for 2024-25

The Ducks haven't made the playoffs since 2018 and have finished in the bottom two of the Pacific Division for four straight seasons. They have taken advantage of their high picks by taking talented forwards and putting them in positions where they could succeed. Then they traded defenseman Jamie Drysdale for Gauthier to get another scorer.

There aren't many playoff contenders in the Western Conference outside of the elite teams. The Golden Knights, Avalanche, Oilers and Stars are Cup contenders, but the playoff teams behind them aren't fantastic. The Ducks could use their offensive core and outperform the teams above them in the standings.

While the road is still open, it won't be an easy one. FanDuel puts their playoff odds at +870, one of the highest in the entire league. Last year they won just 27 games and didn't sign any big-name players as free agents this summer. Usually, teams come out of nowhere and make the playoffs. Last year, no one expected the Devils to miss the playoffs or the Canucks to win the Pacific, but they did it, giving the Ducks hope to shock the world.

Beckett Sennecke will recover from a broken foot and be back on the ice in November. While this will limit his chances of playing for the Ducks, playing below the NHL level will help his development in the long run. Whether he plays for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League or elsewhere, expect him to shine in his first professional season.

Expectations for the Ducks are more focused on individual performances. 20-goal seasons from Zegras, McTavish and Gauthier would help the Ducks finally emerge from this rebuild.