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Devils and the Draft

September 2, 2020, 12:24 PM ET [62 Comments]
Roger Mussa
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Where do the Devils go come Draft time? That is the question.

Let's focus on the first round.
To a degree, much will be out of our hands based on early picks. Having secured 3 First Round picks ; 7, 18 and 20 should net us some interesting options barring any trades.

So, who may be available at these picks?
Best educated guess will be at 7th, as we get deeper in the first round onwards, it becomes a guessing game.

A few names that may be available at 7th:

Cole Perfetti - A LW that is known as a sniper.
Lucas Raymond - A Swedish winger a bit more of an overall package.
Alexander Holtz - RW goal scorer.
Marco Rossi - A playmaking Center.

Of those, hard to see Raymond slipping to 7.
Of those, we should look at what piece best fits the Hischier/Hughes pillars and complements them up front.

So what do we want? We want someone dynamic that can think on the level of our top Centers. We want someone who can shoot and get to the net.

Marco Rossi, being undersized but super talented, could be interesting but having a bigger body on the wing may bode well as a complement. He is a center but may even be best as a winger due to size. Do the Devils have time or want to wait for that transition? ** I don't think size is a an avoidable trait anymore in this NHL, I just prefer having a bigger guy on Nico and Jack's wing.

Alexander Holtz, a goal scorer who has demonstrated having great shot selection which is something the Devils have lacked in the past few seasons. Getting the puck on net. Willing to get dirty he has demonstrated good chemistry with Lucas Raymond. Does that translate into the NHL? Yes.

Cole Perfetti is also a dynamic shooter with playmaking abilities which really complements our centers who are also able to do the same. Needing some skating improvement, his hockey IQ makes up for that. Again, something that could be worked on once in the NHL but should take some time.

Could Lucas Raymond and Jamie Drysdale slip?
Anything can happen after #3 and if so, do the Devils pick a Dman? One that could be an elite power play quarterback type? (these have been plenty in the last few years and drafts (Sergachev, Quinn, Heiskanen, etc).
Same goes for Jake Sanderson if available at #7. Question is, do the Devils go D/

Lucas Raymond would have been my pick, if he is there. Hard nosed winger with a two way game. A typical Lou Lamoriello pick. Although more of a playmaker than shooter first mentality. He will be an NHLer for a while.

Yaroslav Askarov, the Russian goalie, as much as I want him it would be too much of a reach at 7. But doubt he is there at 18.

So where do the Devils go?

I am leaning Alexander Holtz. A RW with a shoot first mentality, in my opinion , would be a nice complement up front.

Either way, at #7 The Devils will add a quality player to complement a strong foundation of Hischier, Hughes, Foote, Smith, Palmieri (yes, he is still relevant in may ways especially if we could re-sign him) along with the rest of the lineup and potential. This should be interesting.

Who would you want at #7 for the Devils?



Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate
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