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The 2013 NHL Entry Draft is just a few days away and the excitement from fans around the league is really starting to build up.
If all remains the same, the New Jersey Devils will pick four times on Sunday with their first pick being 9th overall.
But is picking 9th the best idea going forward for the team? A strong case can be made that the Devils should consider trading down.
Now before fans start going irate, hear me out.
First and foremost, there is a group of 5-6 players who I, and many other teams and scouts, value pretty much the same. We have our favorites, but there isn't much difference between 9th overall and, say, 12th or 13th overall. Maybe even a few spots lower.
Given that the Devils farm system is pretty mediocre, especially when it comes to forward talent, it might make sense for the Devils to move down a few spots and pick up additional picks.
This draft class is very, very deep and there are probably 45 players who you could make the case for going in the 1st round.
Several teams below the Devils have expressed interest in moving up. The Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets are among that group.
The Flames pick 6th, 22nd and 28th. Would they move 22nd and 28th, perhaps something else as well, to move up to 9th overall? They likely would. That might be a bit too far for the Devils to drop off, though.
What about Columbus? They own the 14th, 19th and 27th picks in this draft. If I were Lou Lamoriello, I'd move down if I could get a couple of those picks.
The Winnipeg Jets pick 13th and have three 2nd rounders, as well, so they could be a target.
Overall, there should be plenty of options for the Devils with regards to moving down and if they have a chance to pick a couple players, say Bo Horvat and Adam Erne, Kerby Rychel, Valentin Zykov or Jason Dickinson, they should pull the trigger. It may sound nuts given the Devils need for high end prospects, but I'd rather have a couple of those guys instead of one player like Hunter Shinkaruk because the drop, in my opinion, isn't large.
Picking 9th wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but the Devils have just four picks in this draft and are without a 1st rounder next year, so stockpiling picks might be the best move going forward.
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My thoughts on Dainius Zubrus' rumored extension with the Devils.
I examine how the Devils top-3 centers perform with Ilya Kovalchuk and who's the best fit going forward.
Brendan Ross and myself rank the top-60 prospects and more in
TheHockeyGuys 2013 NHL Draft Guide.
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