In 2024 third-rounder Ondrej Becher, Detroit Red Wings see big potential

When they made their third pick in the 2024 NHL draft, the Detroit Red Wings looked to a forward with a staggering improvement in performance.

Ondrej Becher finished his 2023-24 season in the Western Hockey League with 96 points, more than doubling his production from the previous year. That was enough to intrigue the Wings, who see the 20-year-old Czech winger as a late bloomer with the potential to become a scorer at the NHL level.

"I got to see Bechs play past few world juniors," assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said during the team's early July development camp. "Obviously he has skills. We’ll see what transpires here in terms of where he is going to go play."

STANDING PAT:Steve Yzerman's message that prompted Patrick Kane to stay with Detroit Red Wings

Becher himself wasn't sure where he will play this coming season, but wherever it is, he knows that, "I have to work hard every day, more than even before."

A lanky 6 feet 2 and 187 pounds, Becher has spent the past two seasons playing with the Prince George Cougars. He had an OK first season, with 16 goals and 22 assists in 63 games, plus three points in three playoff games.

This past season, though, he had almost as many goals (32) as he had points the previous year (38) and also picked up 64 assists in 58 games, giving him a 1.65 points-per-game average. In the playoffs, he posted 19 points in 15 games.

It turned out that when Becher committed to his own end of the ice, he was much more effective in the opponent's end.

"I think I start playing more defensively, so I become two-way player," he said. "I wasn’t two-way player before. I try to improve in defensive zone and I think I did. I think that’s why I am here now."

The here and now is that after going undrafted when first eligible, Becher was selected at No. 80 overal at last month's draft at Sphere in Las Vegas — a nine-hour time zone change from where he was when the events unfolded.

"I was back home in Czechia, was watching on TV with my family," Becher said. "It was very exciting.

"I know Red Wings is amazing organization. Original Six, great history here. I know a couple players, Dominik Hasek play here, and Pavel Datsyuk. I’m really proud that i’m part of this amazing organization, so it’s great."

After his breakout season, Becher suspected he would hear his name at the draft. "I was expecting that, because I think I had a really good year this year," he said.

Having developed into a two-way playmaker, Becher is ready to showcase the skill set the Wings liked at the next level.

Contact Helene St. James athstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter@helenestjames

Detroit Red Wings and sign up for ourRed Wings newsletter. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon,Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.