Maybe we'll be surprised with the chemistry between McLeod and Bastian
- willschulme

Maybe give us some flexibility with Zacha. A Zacha-McLeod-Bastian line would have plenty of size/speed.

I'm searching for a silver lining.

Holy crap you guys are so melodramatic. We picked up a bunch of forwards which is what we needed to do. Mcleod and Bastian are now our boys, lets see what they have. Bennet was a first round pick and I would rather see him on the roster over Tootoo. We are seriously lacking RW depth. I know it is disapointing there was nothing earth shattering and this was all pretty conservative but anything great is usually built with a 1000 positive micro moves and a few major ones. Hang tight and let the micro moves happen.
- TRDevil

There a difference between picking a bunch of forwards and picking skilled forwards.

And why trade a 3rd for RW depth when that's what free agency is for.

Maybe give us some flexibility with Zacha. A Zacha-McLeod-Bastian line would have plenty of size/speed.

I'm searching for a silver lining.
- Mr.Bobby

The only silver lining I need is the loser points after ot

The only silver lining I need is the loser points after ot
- shvingter88

You've done it again my friend. This years Devils theme in this thread:

#LoserPoints2017

Somehow Lou is pulling off all these great trades for young talent... Got Rychel for next to nothing.

Wouldnt say we had a bad or terrible draft but we didn't have the best

Hopefully our first picks will have chemistry together and can bring it to the nhl

Beau would/could be a good trade if he stays healthy but I doubt that he will

Didn't pens fans say that shero is good at trading and bad at drafting?
- shvingter88

Correct. Although recently some of his picks have worked out. A couple of those kids were key contributors this year. If you would have asked me before this year, I would have said he's the worst drafting GM in the league. Our system produced virtually nothing (until this year). Plus he traded away so many picks on rentals.

I have no idea what he was doing with the 1st round pick for you guys. That was strange IMO. I liked Ray, but I'm convinced he's just not that great at his job. I don't like his tendencies.

I wasn't really talking about those two. I guess it is what it is. When Matthew Phillips is in Calgary's top 6 and people are saying NJ could of picked him 5 spots ahead, it'll be like the Gaudreau situation.
- Devils9503

You're seriously female doging about a 6th round pick? There's a reason he was passed 165 times. You people really need to chill the (frank) out with this crap

You're seriously female doging about a 6th round pick? There's a reason he was passed 165 times. You people really need to chill the (frank) out with this crap
- bobert836

I feel like the team drafted really well this year, only time will tell. I would have figured that MM and Bennett would be better than just drafting brown. I mean people really like brown I just don't see why they grade him higher than MM.

Keller was the only chance to get a real high potential prospect. Its not like we passed on him.
- rmdevil313

we didn't pass on him when it came our turn to draft, but we passed on him by not moving up to insure we got a higher level prospect. We need more of those and less 3rd round picks.

You're seriously female doging about a 6th round pick? There's a reason he was passed 165 times. You people really need to chill the (frank) out with this crap
- bobert836

It was a 4th and when there's a guy more productive in his first year in a defensive league then any other pick we drafted, then something is wrong. Off the top of my head, Jamie Benn was a 4th and so was Gaudreau.

It was a 4th and when there's a guy more productive in his first year in a defensive league then any other pick we drafted, then something is wrong. Off the top of my head, Jamie Benn was a 4th and so was Gaudreau.
- Devils9503

You know that Benn and Gaudreau being good are exceptions to the expected quality of the average xth round draft pick, right?

It can't be that difficult to figure out that the majority of draft picks don't pan out.

You know that Benn and Gaudreau being good are exceptions to the expected quality of the average xth round draft pick, right?

It can't be that difficult to figure out that the majority of draft picks don't pan out.
- Pomegrant

I was just looking at the complete draft, there were some other guys I was interested to see where they went and it was the 6th round that Phillips was taken in.

I understand, but why not pick the best player available then? Which Phillips was at that point.

On elieprospects.com, some guy compared Bastian to JVR. Just thought I'd share that.

I was just looking at the complete draft, there were some other guys I was interested to see where they went and it was the 6th round that Phillips was taken in.

I understand, but why not pick the best player available then? Which Phillips was at that point.
- Devils9503

He's also the approximate size of Peter Dinklage

He's also the approximate size of Peter Dinklage
- bobert836

So what, he's an inch shorter then Tyler Johnson.

- FLdevilsFAN

This coming from the guy that cries about everything this team does

It is kinda cool we drafted McLeod AND his rapidly rising linemate Bastian, who says he tries to play like Getzlaf/Carter.. strong on the boards, always hard to play against. I like the sound of that.

I didn't really pay too much attention to these guys too much before the draft honestly. I can only handle so many scratchy youtube videos with over excited announcers that sound like they drank a gallon of Tim Horton's before picking up the mic.

There is nothing we can do about it now, but watching the highlight reels post selection, I like Mcleod over Brown anyway. Mcleod has a higher potential in my opinion, I think Brown relies on his size too much which might not carry over to the next level. He looks pretty average just big to me. He could be a total bust, John Scott 2.0.

I feel better about the future of this team today than I did last year at this time of the year.

Zacha - Quennville - Mcleod - Bastian - Wood - Speers - Blandisi - Boucher - Kujawinski + at least one of the other 3/4/5 rounders that might evolve into something we actually have some kids in the cupboard at forward. Another year of this and a few big trades we might have something to talk about.

The moves were mundane to a point the last two days but we still have all of our pieces and added some speed and size.

This coming from the guy that cries about everything this team does
- shvingter88

Ouch

I didn't really pay too much attention to these guys too much before the draft honestly. I can only handle so many scratchy youtube videos with over excited announcers that sound like they drank a gallon of Tim Horton's before picking up the mic.

There is nothing we can do about it now, but watching the highlight reels post selection, I like Mcleod over Brown anyway. Mcleod has a higher potential in my opinion, I think Brown relies on his size too much which might not carry over to the next level. He looks pretty average just big to me. He could be a total bust, John Scott 2.0.

I feel better about the future of this team today than I did last year at this time of the year.

Zacha - Quennville - Mcleod - Bastian - Wood - Speers - Blandisi - Boucher - Kujawinski + at least one of the other 3/4/5 rounders that might evolve into something we actually have some kids in the cupboard at forward. Another year of this and a few big trades we might have something to talk about.

The moves were mundane to a point the last two days but we still have all of our pieces and added some speed and size.
- TRDevil

How's Kujawinski been doing? Don't hear a lot about him

How's Kujawinski been doing? Don't hear a lot about him
- willschulme

Looks like he has 21 points in 59 games in his first year in Albany.

How's Kujawinski been doing? Don't hear a lot about him
- willschulme

Ive followed him with some interest because I liked the pick at the time. Definitely a grinder, could be a good option at 4C in a year or two. Has some pretty good offensive upside for a bruiser.

I didn't really pay too much attention to these guys too much before the draft honestly. I can only handle so many scratchy youtube videos with over excited announcers that sound like they drank a gallon of Tim Horton's before picking up the mic.

There is nothing we can do about it now, but watching the highlight reels post selection, I like Mcleod over Brown anyway. Mcleod has a higher potential in my opinion, I think Brown relies on his size too much which might not carry over to the next level. He looks pretty average just big to me. He could be a total bust, John Scott 2.0.

I feel better about the future of this team today than I did last year at this time of the year.

Zacha - Quennville - Mcleod - Bastian - Wood - Speers - Blandisi - Boucher - Kujawinski + at least one of the other 3/4/5 rounders that might evolve into something we actually have some kids in the cupboard at forward. Another year of this and a few big trades we might have something to talk about.

The moves were mundane to a point the last two days but we still have all of our pieces and added some speed and size.
- TRDevil

McLeod may be a safer bet than Brown, (I'd argue Brown is a pretty safe pick though), but we really need to start taking some homerun swings. There's only so many middle six two way forwards you can ice. Including our NHL team, AHL team and prospect pool outside of Zacha we really don't have anyone with true 1st line potential. Gotta start taking some risks on guys with that potential or get used to picking in the 10-15 range for a long time.