So can we all agree that 10 years and 3 Stanley cups later Jack will go to the Canucks to play with his brother 😏
- devilspep

If that was the case, his bro would be begging to come to NJ. We gonna need more space in the rafters for two lifelong Devils, Nico and Jack!

If anything, Im sure Hall is telling Shero how good hughes is and that he'd be a difference maker.

Also, no sense on putting hughes on top playing agaist the best of the best. Nico is better defensivley to handle that and it'll free up the wizard to do his magic.

Add in a UFA or trade, and we could have so many line possibilities. Should be fun!
- Leniwm1

Good point, say no one comes in in FA, which is unlikely, but still. Who do you slot with Hughes on 2nd?

I have a hard time seeing the Devils drafting Kakko over Hughes.

People are quick to compare this draft to the 2017 draft, when the Devils had the #1 pick in a draft that was considered "The Nolan Patrick Draft" for a couple of years, until Nico's dynamic season changed the conversation. But if you go back and read the prospect coverage, this draft seems much more similar to 2016 than 2017.

In 2016 you had Matthews (American center) who was the consensus #1 all year, and Laine (Finnish winger) who started the year in the top 5 of most rankings before having a great year to become a clear number 2, starting lots of "should Laine be number 1 over Matthews?!" debates. Ultimately though, by this time in 2016 Matthews was still considered the consensus #1, and while I'm sure it's possible some teams had Laine over him in their internal rankings, it never really seemed in doubt who Toronto would take.

By this time in 2017, it was already considered a coin flip between Nolan and Nico. Bob McKenzie had that article where he surveyed 10 scouts, 5 said Nolan and 5 said Nico. A similarly timed article in 2016 had 8 for Matthews and 2 for Laine. His most recent article has 10 out of 10 scouts ranking Hughes over Kakko.

Not even to mention the clear ties to USA Hockey Shero and Hynes have, the relationship Shero has with the Hughes family, and the fact that since the lottery you've heard Shero mention Hughes by name several times in multiple interviews and I think I've maybe heard him mention Kakko once. GMs being GMs, he won't 100% confirm who the pick is until draft day, but baring something dramatic happening at the upcoming IIHF tournaments, I'd be shocked if Hughes isn't the pick.

At this point, I'm so sure they're taking Hughes that I'm looking to see what free agents they should target.

The skill on this team needs more puck support rather than more skill.

Good point, say no one comes in in FA, which is unlikely, but still. Who do you slot with Hughes on 2nd?
- drew18

No good UFA out of EK65 BUT tons of unsigned RFA... Including.., Prov. =)

No good UFA out of EK65 BUT tons of unsigned RFA... Including.., Prov. =)
- Leniwm1

Panarin, Skinner, Eberle, Nyquist, and Zuccarello (lol) are all UFA wingers this summer, it'd be great to add one.

There are a few less exciting options too, like Brian Gibbons.

I feel like every year people say "this is the year there will be offer-sheets!" and it never happens, so I'll believe it when I see it.

We've got three second round picks this draft, I'd be surprised if we actually use all three of those and at least one isn't used in a trade for a roster player.

Panarin, Skinner, Eberle, Nyquist, and Zuccarello (lol) are all UFA wingers this summer, it'd be great to add one.

There are a few less exciting options too, like Brian Gibbons.

I feel like every year people say "this is the year there will be offer-sheets!" and it never happens, so I'll believe it when I see it.

We've got three second round picks this draft, I'd be surprised if we actually use all three of those and at least one isn't used in a trade for a roster player.
- MannySilvers

Yeah i agree, i expect we'll make a trade with all of our picks to bring in a forward and i think we'll sign one of the wingers, add Ferland to that list, decent middle 6 winger that adds skill and a little grit to our lineup which we need. I also agree that i dont think we'll see anybody throw out an offer sheet, they're so unlikely that i just cant see it happening. I think we'll target those teams that have good RFA's so sign and are tight to the cap, maybe try to use that to our advantage and take a younger roster player from them so they can sign their guys(target a Toronto or Winnipeg)

THis li is the real deal....

What NJD need more than anything is SKILL....

Hall and HYNEsS and SHERO all said we need to add SKILL.

Not Size ( although you can get that in UFA and trades)

SKill os what we need and this kid has more than any other NJD....
Hall -Hughes -Smith -Nico -Bratt - Palmieri - Zacha - Boquist - Butcher .
9 skill players .....

Bangers
Wood -Coleman -Rooney , Mcleod ( so far ) . Severson . Santini ?? -

THis li is the real deal....

What NJD need more than anything is SKILL....

Hall and HYNEsS and SHERO all said we need to add SKILL.

Not Size ( although you can get that in UFA and trades)

SKill os what we need and this kid has more than any other NJD....
Hall -Hughes -Smith -Nico -Bratt - Palmieri - Zacha - Boquist - Butcher .
9 skill players .....

Bangers
Wood -Coleman -Rooney , Mcleod ( so far ) . Severson . Santini ?? -
- thechezman

why is your location your phone number

If the last bunch of years have shown anything, strength up the middle wins championships. Kaako is great, Hughes is better and a natural center.

Curious if the Devils will part with some 2nd/3rd round picks for immediate help next season. They have the assets to make some waves and be competitive quickly.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1116790909390057473
Jagr still doing it

Curious if the Devils will part with some 2nd/3rd round picks for immediate help next season. They have the assets to make some waves and be competitive quickly.
- RonPielep

I think they will, i think Shero will go get an impact forward that can slide into our middle 6. But at the same time, i think he'll have the mindset that we're still building for the future. He doesnt want us to be barely fight for a wildcard spot year in and year out, he wants to build us so we're consistently safe in the playoffs and contending to be one of the best. So i do think he'll go out and get some immediate help, but i dont think he'll steer away from the plan of being strong for a long time in the future, which i agree with. Stick to the plan, its starting to turn the corner. Also remember that we have talent coming, we should be expecting someone like Boqvist to come over and take a spot in our middle 9

https://twitter.com/i/status/1116790909390057473
Jagr still doing it
- willschulme

Lets bring him back for the PP. He is inhuman.

Listen, if there was ever a year for the Devils to offer sheet this is it. Assume we make playoffs next year, at worst we are in teens for pick. Even with Hall unlikely we would move up. So the Devs give up a middle round 1st, 2nd and 3rd for some serios young talent. Seems like a no brainer to me - if Shero sees some one who makes sense (like a position of need, nothing in pipeline and no decent free agent).

lets add a RW and LD which we desperately need. Eberle and Gardiner seem to be the best pending UFA's. I bet both would sign similar contracts, with low risk term in the neighbourhood of 2 years 6.5M AAV. Certainly a team with talent trending upwards.

Hall Nico Palms
Coleman Hughes Eberle
Bratt Zajac Zacha
Wood Mcleod Anderson

Gardiner Vats
Butcher Severson
Smith Carrick

Todd Cordell: The Jack Hughes Blog
- Todd.Cordell

Hughes all day

But I have a feeling Dach, and Turcotte will be the best players from the draft.


DOOMED

lets add a RW and LD which we desperately need. Eberle and Gardiner seem to be the best pending UFA's. I bet both would sign similar contracts, with low risk term in the neighbourhood of 2 years 6.5M AAV. Certainly a team with talent trending upwards.

Hall Nico Palms
Coleman Hughes Eberle
Bratt Zajac Zacha
Wood Mcleod Anderson

Gardiner Vats
Butcher Severson
Smith Carrick
- bikeguy99

I have a hard time imagining either Gardiner or Eberle opting for a 2 year deal, even if it's for 6.5mil. I think Gardiner is about as perfect a fit for you guys as you'll find. You'd likely encounter issues in the postseason with a D corps like that, but at least you'd be in the postseason

I like the idea of taking a center. It slides Nico into a 2nd line role, which is where he truly belongs. It pushes Zajac into a third line role, and Zacha into a 4th line center role. We're short on right wings as well, but beings stacked at center ice is more important, in my opinion. As terrible as NJ is at drafting, whichever player we take will likely be outshown by some kid taken 23rd overall. Just our luck. We haven't hit a homerun since Parise. (Not discounting Nico, but too small of a sample size to make a declaration either way.)
- WayneZ

Zacha will be moved to the wing is my best guess

Would love to get Skinner or eberle to help up front....panarin is a pipedream

Or trade for a scoring winger

Would like to improve the D but not sure what is realistic

Hall hischier bratt (hall Nico chemistry and shelters Hughes)
Palms Hughes Skinner/eberle
Zacha zajac Coleman
Bastian Rooney wood

That is without prospects and all

If no UFA then zacha takes skinners place

Looked good on paper

Listen, if there was ever a year for the Devils to offer sheet this is it. Assume we make playoffs next year, at worst we are in teens for pick. Even with Hall unlikely we would move up. So the Devs give up a middle round 1st, 2nd and 3rd for some serios young talent. Seems like a no brainer to me - if Shero sees some one who makes sense (like a position of need, nothing in pipeline and no decent free agent).
- redmonsters

Sure, maybe we could offer sheet someone in the 4-8 mill range like a Kapanen or Connor, but we're in no position to be giving up multiple 1sts plus other picks on top of it. It's just very rare for offer sheets, so im not expecting it to happen this summer. I can see us targeting a team in cap trouble with those RFA's and making a trade with them to bring a piece back though. I also feel like people arent considering that Jesper Boqvist, and even Fabian Zetterlund, will be in camp competing for jobs, Boqvist specifically has a good shot at making the team and being atleast on a 3rd line

As far as free agents go I’d go after zucc first, eberle, then ferland and gardiner on d.

Sure, maybe we could offer sheet someone in the 4-8 mill range like a Kapanen or Connor, but we're in no position to be giving up multiple 1sts plus other picks on top of it. It's just very rare for offer sheets, so im not expecting it to happen this summer. I can see us targeting a team in cap trouble with those RFA's and making a trade with them to bring a piece back though. I also feel like people arent considering that Jesper Boqvist, and even Fabian Zetterlund, will be in camp competing for jobs, Boqvist specifically has a good shot at making the team and being atleast on a 3rd line
- vlongo4419

Didn't Boqvist resign with his team in Sweden though?

Didn't Boqvist resign with his team in Sweden though?
- Devils4ever

He has an opt out to stay here if he makes the team. He signed over there in case he doesnt make the team, he can go back instead of play the AHL

He has an opt out to stay here if he makes the team. He signed over there in case he doesnt make the team, he can go back instead of play the AHL
- vlongo4419

Gotcha. Hopefully he shows up at training camp and makes the roster.

Gotcha. Hopefully he shows up at training camp and makes the roster.
- Devils4ever

I hope he does too, it'd be a nice addition to get more skill into the lineup! He's arguably our best forward prospect, and has played pretty well in the Swedish pro league. Excited to see how he does at the World Championships