Zachary Senyshyn – Right Wing – 15th Overall 2015
Year-to-Date: 22 Games – 13 Goals – Eight Assists – 21 Points – 15 PIMs – Minus-1
Zachary Senyshyn was an unpopular draft pick. Just about every headline following Sweeney’s first draft as GM included the “reach” of a selection used on Senyshyn. Many scouts had the 6-foot-3 forward ranked as a second, or even third round draft pick, but Sweeney and his staff had a different evaluation. Reports later indicated that both the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs traded down in the first round following the selection of Senyshyn due to him being a first round pick on their draft boards as well, but there’s simply no way to ever confirm if those reports are true.
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To Senyshyn’s credit, however, he has excelled since being drafted. He’s done so well, that he’s even earned himself a place on Team Canada’s radar for the upcoming World Junior Championships.
Increased Opportunity, Increased Output
In Senyshyn’s first full season in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Senshyn scored 26 goals and 45 points along with 17 penalty minutes and a plus-30 rating. The totals are impressive, but with Matthew Barzal and Kyle Connor both still available on the draft board, many believes the Bruins had made a mistake. To be fair, the choices of Barzal and Connor could still have ultimately been the smarter choices, but Senyshyn did his part to prove Sweeney and the Bruins right in the following season.
In his second season with the Greyhounds, Senyshyn exploded with 45 goals and 65 points in 66 games along with 20 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating. The former fourth-line player was now getting top-line minutes and was showcasing his ability at an impressive clip.
This season, Senyshyn has been just as impressive, despite a slow start to the year. He’s now up to 13 goals and 21 points in 22 games and looks right on track to put up another impressive season in the OHL.