Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Post-Draft Thoughts

Nice write up Todd. Thoughts on getting Bennett?

Anything pointing towards an improvement out of Saginaw? Solidified coaching? new prospects coming in?

Nice write up Todd. Thoughts on getting Bennett?
- K-dizzle

Will write about that within the next couple days but I like it.

Anything pointing towards an improvement out of Saginaw? Solidified coaching? new prospects coming in?
- TheNugeIsHuge

A lot of their best players were young. Continued development will help. They have a lot of draft picks to play with, too, so I'm sure they'll parlay some of those into roster players that can help now.

Its times like this where you miss TG with all the draft news and interviews, fire and ice isnt the same, would have been pretty cool to read their interviews and all

Its times like this where you miss TG with all the draft news and interviews, fire and ice isnt the same, would have been pretty cool to read their interviews and all
- dmarsden2988

I don't think any of us realized how spoiled we were to have him. He was a Devils coverage animal.

I wonder if Shero goes around picking up players who can play with all the cap he has. I have a feeling if Pete can get his dmen his going to offload Pou somewhere to sign Lucic. Maybe NJ makes sense.

I wonder if Shero goes around picking up players who can play with all the cap he has. I have a feeling if Pete can get his dmen his going to offload Pou somewhere to sign Lucic. Maybe NJ makes sense.
- FiretheGM

Nah. Too much term on that poopty contract. A Datsyuk or Pronger contract make sense because there's only 1 year left.

Nice write up Todd. Thoughts on getting Bennett?
- K-dizzle

Just my two cents on this:
1) IF Shero and the scouts intended to take Mcloed anyway moving to 12th was a great move. It's a free 3rd rounder for nothing... Big IF.. But I think it's what happened.
2) Flipping the third for an NHL ready guy with a lot of upside is smart. Bennett has real skills and can play. He's just had a terrible start to his career. To me he's a good gamble. JJ was equally injury prone but seems healthier now. Maybe we catch a break with this guy. Maybe not.... But is forth a free shot.

Just my two cents on this:
1) IF Shero and the scouts intended to take Mcloed anyway moving to 12th was a great move. It's a free 3rd rounder for nothing... Big IF.. But I think it's what happened.
2) Flipping the third for an NHL ready guy with a lot of upside is smart. Bennett has real skills and can play. He's just had a terrible start to his career. To me he's a good gamble. JJ was equally injury prone but seems healthier now. Maybe we catch a break with this guy. Maybe not.... But is forth a free shot.
- Queenie_5_hole

What probably happened was they had 2 guys they valued equally so when Ottawa called it was a win-win to move back one spot

Its times like this where you miss TG with all the draft news and interviews, fire and ice isnt the same, would have been pretty cool to read their interviews and all
- dmarsden2988

You following @ChrisRyan_NJ on the twitters? He's not TG but give him time.

I wish our gm wasnt a guy who's only accomplishment was being handed Malkin and Crosby. This might be a job for a gm who has a little more experience then Shero.

I wish our gm wasnt a guy who's only accomplishment was being handed Malkin and Crosby. This might be a job for a gm who has a little more experience then Shero.
- blizzzard

and Fleury, and Staal, and Whitney who turned into Kunitz. tough job.

I wish our gm wasnt a guy who's only accomplishment was being handed Malkin and Crosby. This might be a job for a gm who has a little more experience then Shero.
- blizzzard

Let's give Ray a chance now lol. I'm disappointed in the draft and the bennet trade but other than that I've been happy with most of his moves. Let's just hope he makes the right moves in free agency and doesn't do anything stupid like trade severson.

Ray has pretty much stuck to what he said he was going to do so far. He was going to add speed and youth and not do anything that would hurt us moving forward. Trading Severson would have done that, some package of assets we don't have to spare to move up to third or fourth would have done that. The choices that were made were positive steps forward with no downside. The guy has been here for just over one year. Let's see what he can do. UFA hasn't even started yet.

Mcleod looks soo skiddish and nervous in all his interviews he doesn't seem comfortable answering questions and he doesn't seem to know a thing about the team (not that, that overally matters) although he claims to have watched them win a cup as he has said that twice then dropped the topic completely. I get that we lacked speed and a lot of other things but I really wanted a prospect that when asked tell Devils fans what he can bring to the Devils "I am going to bring a lot of points and goals or just offence" not "I can play pp and pk and work really hard" But we will see or time will tell I guess. I just hope he isn't another Brunner ( all wheels and no hands or finish ) Praying for a Duchene here

Ray has pretty much stuck to what he said he was going to do so far. He was going to add speed and youth and not do anything that would hurt us moving forward. Trading Severson would have done that, some package of assets we don't have to spare to move up to third or fourth would have done that. The choices that were made were positive steps forward with no downside. The guy has been here for just over one year. Let's see what he can do. UFA hasn't even started yet.
- TRDevil

Can you explain how though ? How could we not afford to move out picks we had extra picks in all of the next three drafts ? These picks have a way slighter chances of panning out then an NHL player so why could we not afford to do anything? Also why would trading Severson of made us worse ? We wouldn't be moving him for Jason Pommenville. I am sure if Severson was moved it would be for a young forward who can contribute to the roster now and still has a lot of upside and then we would like replace what Severson brought last year by signing a free agent. How has being the safest organization in the league worked out for us the past 5 years ? I think it's more then time we took some risks that could pay off huge and not the dumpster pick up ones.

Last year maybe we couldn't afford to do anything but we have acquired a few more decent picks since then. We are going to wait 3-5 years for these 2nd and third round picks this year then the same for the ones the year after and so on so what you're telling me we can't move them to speed things up that we need to wait another good 5-6 years before we see anything ?

Can you explain how though ? How could we not afford to move out picks we had extra picks in all of the next three drafts ? These picks have a way slighter chances of panning out then an NHL player so why could we not afford to do anything? Also why would trading Severson of made us worse ? We wouldn't be moving him for Jason Pommenville. I am sure if Severson was moved it would be for a young forward who can contribute to the roster now and still has a lot of upside and then we would like replace what Severson brought last year by signing a free agent. How has being the safest organization in the league worked out for us the past 5 years ? I think it's more then time we took some risks that could pay off huge and not the dumpster pick up ones.
- blizzzard

It is subjective with Severson, yes trading him could have made us better with what he could bring, but it also would have the chance to work out not in our favor in the long run. I am still pretty high on him and think he has some elite talent that just hasn't really surfaced yet.

As far as big risks go I think during the earlier stages (where we are really) of a rebuild it would be better to stay away from any high risk high reward type things. We are so far from really competing a setback now would really be detrimental at this point if we went all in on someone who end up being a bust or just never gets into the NHL level of play effectively on a top line role.

Last year maybe we couldn't afford to do anything but we have acquired a few more decent picks since then. We are going to wait 3-5 years for these 2nd and third round picks this year then the same for the ones the year after and so on so what you're telling me we can't move them to speed things up that we need to wait another good 5-6 years before we see anything ?
- blizzzard

I am not saying to wait 5 years, I am just saying be a little more patient. There is a cost/benefit ratio to everything. I am willing to bet the costs were just way too high for the associated benefit so Ray passed. Because you really want something doesn't make getting taken advantage of to get it a good deal.

Last year maybe we couldn't afford to do anything but we have acquired a few more decent picks since then. We are going to wait 3-5 years for these 2nd and third round picks this year then the same for the ones the year after and so on so what you're telling me we can't move them to speed things up that we need to wait another good 5-6 years before we see anything ?
- blizzzard

Most rebuilds take 5-6 years before you reap the rewards. There's no short cuts in the process. Those who try to cut corners in a rebuild end up with a mediocre product for a longtime. I'm a mets fan and I had to be patient for 9 years before the rebuild finally paid off. Sit back and relax. Good times are ahead next decade.

One thing I will say is Ray hasn't tendered any stupid contracts yet. I hope that continues, I don't see anyone available on July 1st to break the bank for. I hope he adds some defense depth on the left side and some scoring depth. Please don't give Okposo or Boedker at 6 year deal that pays them like a 1st line forward.