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New Jersey Devils: Top-5 Defence Prospects

August 25, 2013, 12:02 PM ET [17 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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Prospect talk seems to be the sexy topic these days so given I'm a credentialed OHL scout and follow Junior hockey quite closely, I decided to join in on the fun.

Yesterday I wrote a piece ranking the Devils top-5 forward prospects. They have a couple high end players, but after Reid Boucher and Stefan Matteau there's a pretty significant drop in talent.

In this post I'll be looking at the Devils top-5 defence prospects which will surely be a more encouraging read for Devils fans.

Here are my rankings for the top-5 defence prospects in the Devils system.

Note: upside is not my projection for the player, but rather what he could turn into if said player reaches his full potential.

1. Jon Merrill (38th overall in 2010)

Simply put, Jon Merrill is an absolute stud. Despite missing a good chunk of games in each of the last two seasons due to some off-ice issues as well as injuries, he's an extremely promising prospect. After he decided to turn pro and joined Albany, he had no problems stepping in and playing at a high level as evident by his point totals. In Merrill's first 12 pro games with Albany, he played big minutes every night and recorded eight points in 12 games.

Merrill is a steady two-way defenseman who has been compared to Ryan Suter. He can skate with the puck, he's poised with it and there aren't many situations he can't get out of. He makes a good first pass and is effective running a power play. Merrill's a very smart player who understands the game and likes to keep things simple. He doesn't force plays and let's the play come to him rather than doing so.

Upside: No. 2 two-way defenseman

2. Damon Severson (60th overall in 2012)

Severson is a very good prospect and did get some consideration from me as the Devils top defence prospect. He was an absolute stud for the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL last season as he played in all situations and enjoyed plenty of success while doing so. He scored 10 times, recorded 52 points and had 74 PIMs while posting a +43 rating. He was very good during the Rockets playoff run, too, as he recorded 10 points in 11 games. His success last year didn't stop there, though, as he played a couple of games in Albany to end the season and put up two points there.

Severson is a two-way defenseman who can flat out fly. He makes skating look effortless and can rush the puck himself at an equal level that he can distribute it. He's a very good passer and he also has a good shot. He's very good on the power play and he's not bad on the penalty kill, either. His defensive play could use some work, but it's by no mans a glaring weakness. Severson doesn't shy away from physicality and will mix it up at times, whether it be by laying a big hit or dropping the mitts.

Upside: Top-4 two-way defenseman

3. Eric Gelinas (53rd overall in 2009)

Gelinas took a bit of a step back last year in terms of production, but he remains a very good prospect who should turn into a solid NHL player.

He's a big defenseman who can skate very well despite his big frame. He has a cannon of a shot and is a guy you really have to watch out for on the power play. Gelinas makes a good first pass, but can also skate the puck out of trouble if required. He can be physical at times, but he needs to play with more of an edge on a consistent basis considering his size. His defensive game could use some work as well.

Upside: Top-4 offensive defenseman

4. Steve Santini (42nd overall in 2013)

While the Devils certainly weren't lacking in upper echelon defence prospects, I understand the decision to select Santini as they viewed him as the best player available at the time.

Santini is a defensive minded defenseman who's extremely tough to play against. His gap control is very good and he has no problem using his body to knock you off the puck or just put you on the ice. He's not afraid to block shots, is very good positionally and is an excellent penalty killer. Santini is also very mobile and makes a good first pass for a defenseman of his ilk.

Upside: Top-4 defensive defenseman

5. Alex Urbom (73rd overall in 2009)

With Urbom what you see is what you get. He's a big, physical defensive defenseman who isn't afraid to throw his weight around despite the stereo type that European players are soft. He's a good skater for his size as well. Urbom's very smart and has the ability to read and react to plays at a quick rate.

He won't contribute offensively, but he could be a good defensive defenseman at the NHL level.

Upside: 2nd pairing defensive defenseman

Overall outlook: The Devils might not be stacked in terms of forward prospects, but their defence prospects are among the best, if not the best in the NHL. There are several quality prospects who bring a variety of different things to the table and with Adam Larsson already on the team, if even a couple of these guys pan out the Devils defence will be very formidable for a long time. The Devils defence will likely change a lot over the next couple seasons, and likely for the good.
**

A look at the Devils top five forward prospects.

Jeff Frazee signs in Italy.

Jaromir Jagr one and done?

Expectations for Adam Larsson?

Why the Devils will compete for a playoff spot.

Who are the Devils shootout specialists?

A look at the Devils options at 3rd line left wing.

Cory Schneider vs. Martin Brodeur.

Who found success vs. Martin Brodeur last season?

Who found success vs. Cory Schneider last season?

A look at how Schneider and Brodeur fared vs. defenseman compared to forwards last season.

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