Ray Shero has said since Day 1 on the job that he'd like to improve the Devils' offense.
While it will take time he'll have an opportunity to start doing so next weekend at the NHL Entry Draft.
The Devils don't have much in the way of quantity - they're set to pick just six times - but they do have a lot in terms of quality with three picks in the top-41 and four in the top-67.
They have just two picks beyond the 3rd round, though, which is why I think the Devils should swing for the fences and choose some 'high-risk, high-reward guys' more so than 'safe picks'.
There are steals in every draft. That will never change. The best way to hit on later picks, in my opinion, is by taking a chance on a skilled player with defensive issues, for example, rather than taking a player with questionable upside.
Drafting is not an exact science and it's impossible to hit every pick. That said the late picks that pan out are often skilled players with holes in their game and not the physical players who are projected to be 4th liners.
Positioning can be coached. High-end skill can not.
Here are a few sleepers I think the Devils would be smart to take a chance on in the middle rounds of the draft.
W - Dmytro Timashov (Quebec, QMJHL) Timashov is a highly skilled winger that led the Memorial Cup hosts in scoring with 90 points in 66 regular season games.
He's not much of a goal scorer - he had 22 goals in 88 regular season/playoff games - but he possesses high-end vision and playmaking abilities.
Timashov is a good skater with slick hands who was very good through the neutral zone in the four games I tracked this season. He also fared very well in possession despite less than favorable offensive zone starts.
The knocks on Timashov are his play away from the puck and his size (Quebec lists him at 5'9"). He'll need to bulk up and, again, his game has some holes but he has a lot of skill and could be a good value pick in the middle rounds.
C/W - Anthony Richard (Val d'Or, QMJHL) Richard is a guy I liked when I saw at the 2014 Memorial Cup and have followed ever since.
He's a very good skater who possesses an excellent shot. He can beat you multiple ways and that shows up in the numbers.
Richard coming off an excellent season with Val d'Or having scored 43 goals and recorded 91 points in 66 regular season games.
Like Timashov, there are two main concerns with him: play away from the puck and size - in both height and weight - as he's listed as 5'10", 165 pounds.
W Andrew Mangiapane (Barrie, OHL) Last but no least we have Andrew Mangiapane, a 2nd year entry who I have seen a ton of over the last couple seasons.
He's a very good skater who is shifty in space and tough to contain. Like Richard and Timashov he's talented but small in stature - he's listed at 5'10', 170 pounds, though he plays much bigger than his size - which is why he was passed over a year ago.
Having scored 43 goals and tallied 103 points with the Barrie Colts this past season he won't be passed over again.
He likely won't fall too far but he's a name I'd be looking at closely if he's still available when the Devils are up in the 3rd - or even 4th - round.
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If you want to learn more about these players and many, many others I recommend checking out HockeyProspect.com's Blackbook. As a HockeyProspect scout and contributor I saw first hand how much hard work went into this. With almost 500 pages of content it's certainly the most thorough guide on the market.
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