Sens Draft Owen Beckner at 204th Overall

With the 204th-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators selected centre Owen Beckner from the BCHL Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

The 6'2", 175-lb native of Victoria, BC appears to be a bit of a late bloomer. After just 10 points in 42 games last season in the BCHL, he followed it up this year with 50 in 53 (including 17 goals), and then had 10 points (2 goals) in 14 playoff games. He credits this to his growth in size and strength over this past offseason.

His strengths are listed as his hockey IQ, his skating, and his stickhandling in tight spaces. These all bode well for a player making the NHL eventually. For the 2023-24 season, he is committed to Colorado College in the NCAA Division 1. Though not a powerhouse school, they did have an NHL prospect (Noah Laba, 2022 111th-overall pick by the Rangers) and a now-signed NHLer (Hunter McKown, signed by the Blue Jackets) on the roster last year.

Like any 7th-rounder, we probably won't hear much from him for at least a couple years. He'll benefit from some time in the NCAA, as well as from some time with professional development coaches with the Sens. For what it's worth, McKeen's had him 199th and Draft Prospects Hockey had him 119th, so this was a fairly standard late-round pick by the Sens.

Welcome to the team, Owen!