Red Wings draft Ondrej Becher 80th overall at the 2024 NHL Draft

The Detroit Red Wings have drafted Ondrej Becher with the 80th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft:

Per the Hockey News’s Adam Kierszeneblat:

The WHL is set to play a significant role in this year’s 2024 NHL Draft. 57 players were included on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, with a handful expected to be drafted in the first round. Today’s draft profile is of Prince George Cougars’ Ondrej Becher, who enters the draft as the 69th-ranked North American Skater.

After being passed over in the last two drafts, Becher is projected to finally hear his name called by an NHL team. The Czechian winger had a season to remember, recording 96 points in 58 games while also representing his country at the 2024 World Juniors. A player who has an impact on the game at both ends of the ice, he has developed into an intriguing prospect this season. 

Before discussing his offensive ability, Becher’s defensive game needs to be recognized. He is excellent at blocking shots and creates turnovers at a high rate. As for his positioning, Becher understands where he needs to be at all times, making it a frustrating task for the opposition to try and generate chances when he is on the ice.

As for the offensive zone, Becher thrives with the puck on his stick. While he can score, he is a high-end playmaker who can set up teammates in scoring positions. Becher is also a master in the transition game, as he knows whether the best option is to pass the puck off to a teammate or carry it into the offensive zone himself.

Per the Canadian Hockey League’s website:

With the NHL Draft kicking off this weekend, Becher remains focused and composed. “To be honest, I am just working on myself and not thinking about it too much. Whatever happens will happen,” commented the Czech forward.

At the Combine, Becher had the chance to engage with several NHL teams and reconnect with his fellow countrymen who are also anticipating the draft. “The Combine was really good, it was great there,” he said. “I really enjoyed all aspects of it, but my favorite things were definitely the meetings. I felt very good about all of them. It was also great to see all of my Czech friends there as well.”

During the 2023-2024 season, Becher played alongside Terik Parascak, and the duo combined for an impressive 201 points (75-126-201). They were pivotal to PG’s success throughout the season and the playoffs. Becher and Parascak were roommates at the Combine, which provided comfort for Becher. “It was so good to have a teammate there,” Becher said. “We were roommates, which was awesome. It definitely helped me mentally to have Perry there.”

Here are his rankings on EliteProspects:

Ranked #132 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #56 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #82 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #88 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #250 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #115 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #69 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)

Here’s MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Becher, a native of Ostrava, Czechia, compiled 32 goals and 64 assists in 58 games last season. He’s 6-2, 187 and shoots left.

Eliteprospects.com said of Becher: “With a combination of dynamic transition skills and off-puck details, Becher is a consistent contributor. In transition, he works give-and-gos, attacks on angles, uses the trailer, and delays as defenders close.”

At 20, he’s two years older than the typical prospect, having been passed over previously in the draft.

The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton:

Becher—a native of Ostrava, Czechia—has spent the past two seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars. He broke out this year as a double over-ager (i.e. a 20-year-old) with 96 points (32 goals and 64 assists) in 58 games, before pitching in 19 points in 15 postseason games. EP’s draft guide touts his transition aptitude and detail away from the puck.

And The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

80. Ondřej Becher, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

February 22, 2004 | 6′ 0″ | 187 pounds

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Becher took significant steps forward from being a mediocre junior player into one of the best WHL forwards this season. He was also very good at the world juniors for Czechia. The third-year draft-eligible center is a strong skater with a good skill level. He can beat defenders one-on-one with pace. He sees the ice OK and has a good one-timer. He showed well running the flank on Prince George’s power play although he doesn’t project into that role as a pro. He’s average-sized, but competes well enough and gets to the middle of the ice. Nothing about his game truly stands out, so a clear NHL role isn’t something I see, but there’s enough to his game to potentially find a way into some sort of job.

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!