Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: What's The Cost To Move Up At The Draft?

Great read I was saying that after seeing and hearing all the hype on the top three guys it is almost a kick in the nuts picking 9th and having such a crappy season you want one of the 3 you mentioned to make things right. I am a huge Henrique fan but man I think I would do that trade if it ment getting Nate the Great or Drouin. But it seems like every single team that didn't make the play offs wants in the top three and the prices will be insane to get in there and all three could use the top three pick none of them really had a fluke year where they are good enough to pass it up but like you said its unlikely

Great read I was saying that after seeing and hearing all the hype on the top three guys it is almost a kick in the nuts picking 9th and having such a crappy season you want one of the 3 you mentioned to make things right. I am a huge Henrique fan but man I think I would do that trade if it ment getting Nate the Great or Drouin. But it seems like every single team that didn't make the play offs wants in the top three and the prices will be insane to get in there and all three could use the top three pick none of them really had a fluke year where they are good enough to pass it up but like you said its unlikely
- blizzzard

Agree with all of this.

Ya the only team I could really see possibly moving their pick would be Tampa. FLA won't move their pick unless it's for something crazy. The cats lack a #1 center, everybody's reasoning why they would want that pick is the same as the cats so I don't see the pick moving.

Agree with all of this.
- Todd.Cordell

Do you think that trade does anything for us next season I imagine it would set us back next sets us back next year or we stay in the exact same spot then after next year it kind of propels us up I mean I could kind of see Lou pushing a little harder then usual for something like this just so he knows he left the next guy with two very solid building blocks in Larsson and one of those three because he will not be our gm forever and I cant see him leaving the team a mess for possibly his son or anyone else who might take over not his style

Ya the only team I could really see possibly moving their pick would be Tampa. FLA won't move their pick unless it's for something crazy. The cats lack a #1 center, everybody's reasoning why they would want that pick is the same as the cats so I don't see the pick moving.
- Crazycaboose

Honestly, either do I. But it makes for some interesting talk in the meantime.

Honestly, either do I. But it makes for some interesting talk in the meantime.
- Todd.Cordell

Agreed not saying it couldn't happen, but the price is going to be through the roof. If teams knew FLA was considering trading the pick the bidding war would be crazy. Even more so with the cap going down. IMO

I would do that deal in a heartbeat for MacKinnon, most likely yes for Drouin too, although I'd rather have Nichushkin's size. I probably would for Barkov too. Carolina may be a good trade partner as the offensive players are rising and the 2nd defenseman might not go until ~ #10 depending on how the chips fall.

There definitely is a talent tier between Barkov/Nichushkin and Monahan/Lindholm. If those guys fall to 9 or we trade up to 7 to get them, great, we didn't pay as much to get into the top 5.

I would do that deal in a heartbeat for MacKinnon, most likely yes for Drouin too, although I'd rather have Nichushkin's size. I probably would for Barkov too. Carolina may be a good trade partner as the offensive players are rising and the 2nd defenseman might not go until ~ #10 depending on how the chips fall.

There definitely is a talent tier between Barkov/Nichushkin and Monahan/Lindholm. If those guys fall to 9 or we trade up to 7 to get them, great, we didn't pay as much to get into the top 5.
- spdevotee

and how does Shinkaruk compare with those players/tiers?

and how does Shinkaruk compare with those players/tiers?
- MartysBetter88

I've heard he's a shade below Monahan/Lindholm but earlier he was top 10. I'd say he probably goes in the teens as more teams are placing a premium on size. That's why I also like Erne and Mantha who can score, have a hard shot and play a very heavy game. I think Zykov and Rychel do too but we can trade back for them.

If we're picking at 9 and don't LOVE what's on the board, I'd say trade back 1-2 times and stockpile a few extra picks b/c the draft is very deep this year.

i wouldn't mind trading up to the 4-7th spot, and see if we can get that russian nishuskin or something like that or shinkaruk

I see the devils taking shinkaruk at 9.

I kinda see:

Jones
mackinnon
drouin
barkov
Nichkinun(however u spell it)
lindholm
monahan
ristolanian
shinkaruk

I see the devils taking shinkaruk at 9.

I kinda see:

Jones
mackinnon
drouin
barkov
Nichkinun(however u spell it)
lindholm
monahan
ristolanian
shinkaruk
- allen_gamble

If Buffalo takes Shinkaruk at 8th, what do you do if you are the Devils?

If Buffalo takes Shinkaruk at 8th, what do you do if you are the Devils?
- ChuckNJ

trade down to 15 to 18 and take rychel

I would do that deal in a heartbeat for MacKinnon, most likely yes for Drouin too, although I'd rather have Nichushkin's size. I probably would for Barkov too. Carolina may be a good trade partner as the offensive players are rising and the 2nd defenseman might not go until ~ #10 depending on how the chips fall.

There definitely is a talent tier between Barkov/Nichushkin and Monahan/Lindholm. If those guys fall to 9 or we trade up to 7 to get them, great, we didn't pay as much to get into the top 5.
- spdevotee

If you're not getting MacKinnon or Drouin, it's better to keep Henrique and Urbom and just pick 9th. Is there really that much of a difference between Barkov/Nichuskin and Shinkaruk/Horvat (with a pretty decent chance of having Lindholm or Monahan fall to 9)? The Devils would be crazy to lose Henrique and Urbom to upgrade from Shinkaruk to Nichuskin. The Devils not only need high-end players, but they need depth.

If Buffalo takes Shinkaruk at 8th, what do you do if you are the Devils?
- ChuckNJ

Happily draft Rasmus Ristolainen as the best player available. Or if they must have a forward (which is foolish because you shouldn't use the NHL Draft primarily to upgrade your current NHL roster), attempt to trade down (or just stay at 9) and pick Horvat or Domi.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: What's The Cost To Move Up At The Draft?
- Todd.Cordell

oh please no please

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: What's The Cost To Move Up At The Draft?
- Todd.Cordell

Or trade up to Carolina at 5 and grab Nichuskin.

If Buffalo takes Shinkaruk at 8th, what do you do if you are the Devils?
- ChuckNJ

Trade back for sure. Maybe back 12-15 and take any of Domi, Horvat, Rychel, etc. So many solid players in the draft. If your not getting the guy you want you may as well move back if your any team, especially with this draft class being so deep.

Happily draft Rasmus Ristolainen as the best player available. Or if they must have a forward (which is foolish because you shouldn't use the NHL Draft primarily to upgrade your current NHL roster), attempt to trade down (or just stay at 9) and pick Horvat or Domi.
- isles10289

The Devils depth of their roster and prospects are defensmen. Other than Boucher, the devils don't have a blue chip up front. Monahan, Domi or Shinkaruk would do wonders for the devils.

I dunno about trading off any of our young forwards...I wouldn't be averse to trading a d prospect or an NHL ready d-man to move up a few spots...but I don't see Lou trying to move up unless he sees parise in the top 8

I was actually thinking about this for some weeks now. I thought people would think I'm nuts for even mentioning Henrique's name in a trade. However, this is why I would trade Henrique: I love the type of player that he is and is a born leader, but I'm not completely sold on him. He scored 14/15 goals his first year, that was with Kovy and Parise. He played with Elias and Clarkson most the time and wasn't able to contribute as much. Plus, he could end of being like Gomez, in that, he may only score around 15 goals his career. Gomez has only scored 20 or more goals once and that was after the last lockout. Not saying he won't score more, but Loki, Zajac, and Gionta in at center, he may play first line sometimes, and second or third line other times. I just think he needs a better support cast to succeed offensively, like Chicago or Colorado.

I would propose trading Henrique, Urbom, and something else, but not the 9th, for either the first or second. If it was Colorado's 1st, I would try to get Statnsy, so we fill the center position and Colorado frees up the 6.5 cap hit. That would most likely include the 9th though. I would even go as far as trading Clarkson to Colorado with a second or third thrown in from Colorado. This of course depends on how much he wants. Than I would see if Tuomo Ruutu was available from Carolina for a pick. However, we could always sign Ryder or Clowe at free agency.

I dunno about trading off any of our young forwards...I wouldn't be averse to trading a d prospect or an NHL ready d-man to move up a few spots...but I don't see Lou trying to move up unless he sees parise in the top 8
- Xnightwish

I think Drouin is the guy we need, but Mackinnon wouldn't hurt either. Love Drouin though.

The Devils depth of their roster and prospects are defensmen. Other than Boucher, the devils don't have a blue chip up front. Monahan, Domi or Shinkaruk would do wonders for the devils.
- tomburton99

That's true, but if all are gone, you don't take an inferior forward if the best player there is a defenseman. And Ristolainen > Domi. You either trade down, or pick Ristolainen if the circumstances align so that he's left and the top forwards are gone.

Great blog todd. Personally not a fan of trading up when we are already getting a good prospect at our current draft spot. Also, what do you think of Nichiskin? French isn't that high on him, but I feel like he's not in the majority.