With the 2015-16 season reaching its end - at least for the Devils - many have turned their attention to how the team can improve in the draft, via trade and free agency.
One name that has often been brought up is Mikel Boedker.
I'll go more in-depth on some guys the Devils should, and shouldn't, target this off-season down the road but Boedker definitely falls in the latter category - at least for me.
There are a couple reasons for this.
First and foremost he can't score at 5 v 5. His 1.34 points/60 this season would rank him 6th on a Devils team that couldn't score a lick at full-strength.
Boedker is a power play specialist and that's where he records a good portion of his points. There is value in that, obviously, but the Devils haven't been able to score at full-strength for years and Boedker isn't the guy who will change that.
Boedker is also a possession anchor. When he is on the ice at 5 v 5 more bad than good happens. Paying top dollar to a guy who is routinely forced to defend and play without the puck probably isn't a great idea.
He brings a lot of speed to the table and, again, would help out the power play but he wouldn't address the Devils' biggest need and, given what he'll cost, that makes him a guy to avoid.
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Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood has been excellent for the Barrie Colts all season long and his play has not gone unnoticed.
Today it was announced that Blackwood is one of six finalists for OHL Goaltender of the Year.
Blackwood certainly stands a good chance of winning the award as he finished in a tie for 1st in save percentage stopping .921% of the shots he faced. Those numbers are especially impressive when you factor in the OHL is a higher scoring league than the NHL, for example.
To put the numbers in perspective only five goaltenders had a .907SV% or better while a .907SV% in the NHL isn't even league average.
Blackwood's stiffest competition for the award, in my opinion, will be draft eligible Tyler Parsons (.921SV%) and Hurricanes prospect Alex Ndeljkovic (.907SV%) but when all is said and done I expect him to be recognized as the league's best goaltender.
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