Over the last few weeks I've used this space a lot to talk about 1st round options for the New Jersey Devils, be it at 17th overall or later on as the result of a trade to accumulate more picks.
Today I'm going to flip things around and look at a couple names I don't think the Devils should target in the opening round.
Let me preface this by saying I don't dislike the prospects listed or think they'll never pan out. I just don't think there is enough upside to warrant selecting these players in the range they're likely to go.
C - Ryan McLeod - Mississauga (OHL)
Ryan and Michael playing together in the pros after doing so in the OHL would be a pretty cool story. That doesn't mean the Devils should make it happen.
Anyone familiar with Michael McLeod's game knows there are questions about his goal scoring ability and just how much offensive upside he possesses. The same can be said about Ryan.
Michael averaged .37 goals per game and 1.07 points per game in his draft year. Ryan averaged .38 goals per game and 1.03 points per game in his.
Michael was also a more efficient offensive player – almost across the board – at 5v5.
I think Ryan's skillset may be better than Michael's, although it's very close, but the latter is a more complete two-way player and has a much better motor. And, again, he looks like he'll top out as a middle-6 player.
Even if the Devils move down into the mid-to-late 20s, and McLeod is still there, I'd probably look elsewhere for a higher upside choice.
D - Jared McIsaac - Halifax (QMJHL)
I think McIsaac to the Devils is more realistic if they move down a few slots. Still, I'd be a little wary about taking him in the 20s.
There are questions about his decision making and if his skillset is really high end. His 5v5 numbers are a little underwhelming given his ranking, too.
Among draft eligible CHL defenders, McIsaac ranked 20th averaging 1.17 points per 60 minutes played. That's well below Ty Smith (1.90), Rasmus Sandin (1.77), Nicolas Beaudin (1.67), Alexander Alexeyev (1.59), Calen Addison (1.56) and some of the other defenders who could go in the latter half of the 1st round or early in the 2nd.
McIsaac's Relative Goals For% of -4.54 is also 3rd worst among the top-30 CHL defenders in 5v5 points/60. Perhaps some luck is involved but, with a potential 1st round pick, you'd like to see his team fare better with him on the ice than without.
The Devils have gone down the Halifax well a couple times lately (Nico Hischier, Jocktan Chainey) but I think they should avoid it this time around.
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