Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Zachary Senyshyn poses for a photo with team executives after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
When the Boston Bruins selected Zachary Senyshyn number 15 overall in June’s entry draft, NHL pundits and fans heaped criticism on the team for reaching with the pick.
Senyshyn ranked just 38th by Central Scouting and 39th by ISS in final prospect rankings while a few high value offensive dazzlers were still on the board when the B’s went to the podium. As a result the Ottawa native is shouldering an extra layer of scrutiny during his career progression. He passed a key first test in July at Bruins development camp where he was a standout, blowing the crowd away with a pair of goals and assists while creating several other chances in the final scrimmage. “He went out and dominated,” CSNNE reported. “He used his breathtaking skating ability and elite speed to fly up and down the wing to create plays.”
Senyshyn, 18, 6’2’’, 195 lbs, will have a lot of eyes on him when he takes the ice during Bruins rookie camp Sept. 10, followed by an inter-squad rookie tournament and main camp before embarking on a pivotal season of further progress in the Ontario Hockey League. The right wing finished second in rookie scoring with 26 goals and 45 points last season despite playing mostly 4th line minutes on a star-filled Sault Ste. Marie team that had the OHL’s best record and saw multiple players drafted. He should have an expanded role this season with more powerplay time and a chance to grow those point totals.
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Zachary Senyshyn puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Although he’s confident in his abilities, he realizes he has to continue to progress and earn his way. “I’m really thankful that Boston took that chance on me,” Senyshyn told the Ottawa Citizen. “I’m really itching to prove them right in taking me in that position. I need to put in a lot of time and work with these Boston guys at these camps and during my seasons with Ste. Marie. I’m really excited to get started and be able to earn my position on that team eventually.”
There is a lot to like about Senyshyn. He was a fast riser on Central Scouting boards, catapulting from 56th in mid-term rankings to 38th. He’s also just what the doctor ordered when it comes to helping the Bruins adjust to the NHL’s offense, speed and skill trends since the 2004-2005 lockout – which have included establishing obstruction penalties, the shootout, eliminating two-line offsides, reducing goalie pads and making overtime 3-on-3. “ an absolutely elite skater might be the fastest skater in the draft class,” according to Last Word on Sports. “He has a powerful stride that generates great speed, and the acceleration to reach that top speed in just a few steps. He also has the stride and balance to fight through a check and drive to the front of the net. He is deadly when he catches a defender flat-footed in the neutral zone and will be behind them before they know it.”
BSN Avalanche added, he’s “a player with the rare combination of size and absolute, blazing speed. His acceleration and top speed are excellent, but more importantly Senyshyn can play the game, think, and puck handle all while maintaining his top speed. Senyshyn loves to score goals, and with his big frame he isn’t afraid to drive the net and face contact in high scoring areas. He’s most recognizable beating defenders on the outside down the right wing, then cutting in with the puck for a shot on the shortside. he is very solid and difficult to move. That combined with good instincts and quick hands make him a dangerous threat to bury loose pucks and rebounds. Senyshyn has some dekes at high speed that are absolutely dazzling and leave defenders spinning.”
The Bruins perhaps most coveted Senyshyn’s high compete level, aggressiveness and fearlessness in attacking the net – all on display the first day of development camp when he used his speed to drive the net and inadvertently crashed over Bruins goalie prospect Daniel Vladar, taking his mask with him. “A couple accidents, but I’m going to go to the net hard every time,” Senyshyn told The Patriot Ledger.
Puck Prose
Those attributes may have been why Boston made Senyshyn a surprise pick over available offensive juggernauts Matthew Barzal (ranked 11th by Central, 8th by ISS), Travis Konecny (14th, 12th), and Kyle Connor (13th by both). Senyshyn told SooToday he had a couple very good pre-draft meetings with Boston, and with speculation others may have been interested the B’s didn’t want to risk losing him until their next pick. “There was a couple teams that stepped up after the draft and said they would have taken me in that late first round,” he told NESN. “ I can’t imagine wearing any other colors right now.”
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Zachary Senyshyn puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Director of Amateur Scouting Keith Gretzky told the Bruins website Boston really liked Senyshyn’s size, right shot and top speed, so didn’t want to wait to see what happened. “There was a spotlight put on Zachary by several people earmarking him as the pick Dougie Hamilton,” GM Don Sweeney said on the site. “He’s a really young player with a tremendous upside, and we’re happy to have him and we’re going to work with him from a development standpoint and see him become the player we hope he can become.”
Senyshyn has even skated a few times in local Ottawa leagues with Bruins blazer Ryan Spooner, who was one of the first to text him congratulations.
With the high-flying Senyshyn and fellow B’s 1st round pick WHL sniper Jake DeBrusk both going a little higher than projected and a few seasons needed to determine whether central rankings or Bruins scouts were right, it’s also just possible that between the two Boston may have pulled the draft’s fastest skater and purest goal scorer out of a hat.