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As we inch closer and close to the 2013 NHL Draft and free agency, where all the fun begins, New Jersey Devils President and General Manager, Lou Lamoriello, and the rest of his staff are polishing their plan for what should be a busy off-season.
In today's post I'll be answering some Devils questions I selected randomly from followers on Twitter. I like to get the readers involved as often as possible and given that there isn't much in the way of news with the Devils these days (there will be soon), I'll likely start doing this a little more.
From @DPellechi: What are the chances the devils get a guy like Alexander Edler or Bobby Ryan?
The chances of the Devils acquiring either of those guys are probably pretty slim. Not because there's no way either are moved, but because if and when they are legitimately available there will be a lot of potential suitors to compete with. Lamoriello doesn't like getting in bidding wars for players so the longer talks with other teams drag out the less likely it is Lamoriello makes a deal for either.
The Devils have two glaring needs, in my opinion: a puck-moving defenseman who can skate and eat big minutes as well as a legitimate goal-scoring winger. Edler and Ryan fit those descriptions perfectly, and realistically I could see one or both of those guys being moved this off-season. Will they be moved to New Jersey? Probably not. But I'm sure Lamoriello will make some phone calls.
From @SouthDevil30: If you would like to see any major need addressed for the devils in the offseason what would it be? PMD, Top 6 forward etc.
Definitely a top-6 forward. The Devils have the same defense core now as they did two seasons ago when they made it to the Stanley Cup Final. What they are missing now, though, is a top-6 forward they failed to replace after Zach Parise left. The Devils struggled to score mightily last season and they don't have too many legitimate top-6 forward prospects in their system. They do, however, have a very nice collection of young two-way defenseman coming through the ranks so a top-6 forward is the more pressing need, in my opinion.
From @Mohanlon19: Who do you expect the Devils to draft in the first round?
That's a good question, and I honestly think it will depend on who's there. The Devils biggest need is a forward, preferably a winger, and Hunter Shinkaruk may be available when the Devils pick. He's a center who can also play wing but I haven't seen enough of him to know which position he's better at.
With that in mind, if someone slips down a few slots, say Sean Monahan, I'd jump all over it. Monahan is a very good two-way playmaking center who's vision and hockey sense is through the roof. He's lethal on the power play and reminds me a lot of Anze Kopitar. If Monahan is anywhere close to as good as Kopitar, the Devils would have made a heck of a selection.
I guess the answer to your question is the best available forward, whoever that may be. It will likely be Shinkaruk or Monahan and if I had the choice, I'd go with Monahan.
From @MattPalka7: What are the Chances Jon Merrill, Reid Boucher or Stefan Matteau play in the big club this year?
I'd say very high. Depending on what the Devils do this off-season, I could easily see two of them making the team. Boucher scored 62 goals in the OHL last season and given the Devils huge need of a goal-scoring winger, I could see him getting a long look if they don't fill that hole. He could use some more development time in the AHL, but if the Devils can't get a goal-scoring winger they'll likely give him a chance.
Matteau is a player I really like, despite all the shenanigans that went down in the QMJHL. Matteau's father, who was an Assistant Coach, recently quit his job on the staff and went on record saying he felt his son was treated unfairly so I think there's more to the story with Matteau and he isn't the bad guy media portrayed him to be.
As for Merrill, he has the highest upside among all Devils defenseman and if they fail to get a puck-moving defenseman he'll get a look. That said, it's probably best to give him a year in the AHL.
From @ItsACAL: Who's re-signed first this summer - Clarkson or Elias? And who do we target outside of NJ?
I think Elias will be re-signed first, for sure. I can't see him leaving and there's a pretty good chance Clarkson tests free agency so Elias is the much safer bet.
As for potential targets, Edler and Ryan could be targets via trade. Will the Devils land either of them? That's another question.
With regards to free agency, depending if they're available or not I could see them going after Andy McDonald or Valtteri Filppula.
Thanks to all for your questions and sorry if I didn't get to yours.
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I posted a scouting report on potential top-10 pick, Darnell Nurse, at TheHockeyGuys. You can
view the report here.
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