4 biggest takeaways from the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft
By Ben Huffman
A fun weekend began on Friday night, as the 2024 NHL Entry Draft began with its first round from The Sphere in Las Vegas.
With the first overall pick locked in for months now, the real excitement would come with Chicago's second pick, allowing the dominos to fall from there.
It was a night full of surprises, both good and bad, as the next crop of NHL hopefuls began their journeys. Here were some of the biggest takeaways from an interesting first night:
Pat Verbeek, Anaheim surprise everyone with the third pick
It says a lot when even the player you are selecting is stunned to be picked. With the third pick, the Anaheim Ducks selected Beckett Sennecke, and it's safe to say that he wasn't ready for it.
His now-viral reaction to being taken third overall was matched by many at The Sphere, who were shocked to see him go that high.
The Oshawa Generals winger was the 13th-ranked North American skater entering the first round, making this an interesting decision for the Ducks, especially with some of the big names left on the board.