Todd Cordell: Reviewing the New Jersey Devils' 2019 draft class

Have to agree with Todd. Like this draft other than Tyce Thompson and the goaltender pick... but still an exciting two days.

Big defenders are somewhat out of fashion but I’m tired of watching our guys get pushed around. We have decent puck movers in PK, Vats, Severson and Butcher. We need guys to lick it down and make us a hard team to play against.

I was actually pumped with these D picks after watching their interviews!

They all where very excited to be Devils

They all said they love to play physical and they all basically said you need to be aware when they are on the ice !

Loved the forward we took at 81 and im pretty intrigued by the late round higher ceiling guys.

Not sure how I feel about Tyce Thompson but time will tell. The only other thing I was hoping for was a strong skating power forward with some nasty but overall cant complain and we still have a trade or 2 left in us I think so maybe I still get that forward lol

Have to agree with Todd. Like this draft other than Tyce Thompson and the goaltender pick... but still an exciting two days.

Big defenders are somewhat out of fashion but I’m tired of watching our guys get pushed around. We have decent puck movers in PK, Vats, Severson and Butcher. We need guys to lick it down and make us a hard team to play against.
- Queenie_5_hole

The only 2 players I was dissapointed we didnt get where Tracey and Vlasic and that is just because they seemed like realistic options in our spots.

Overall might not have as high of hopes for these guys ceilings but I cant lie I love the cloth they are cut from lol

Xavier Simoneau went undrafted, 57 points in 55 games, can we pick guys up after the draft ?

As for going with bigger defenders, I hope there better then Anttoni Honka and Mikko Kokkonen who both went late in the third, I 'm not saying I was high on both but that was because they shouldn't have been 1st round contenders, but late in the 3rd when we had all those third round picks ?

But worst of all was leaving Pavel Dorofeyev on the table, that was a steal for Vegas, lets hope Misyul turns out to be a better prospect.

Todd seemed kind of ho hum on the Michael Vukojevic pick, but I really liked that one at #82. All the scouting reports on him talk about good hockey IQ, foot speed and shut down ability. That's something we've lacked in our shut down guys. Mueller is susceptible to brain farts, Lovejoy and mobility aren't words you really see together. If we got a bottom pair, PK guy who has good speed, size and smarts and plays well in his own end I think we got a good one there.

Xavier Simoneau went undrafted, 57 points in 55 games, can we pick guys up after the draft ?

As for going with bigger defenders, I hope there better then Anttoni Honka and Mikko Kokkonen who both went late in the third, I 'm not saying I was high on both but that was because they shouldn't have been 1st round contenders, but late in the 3rd when we had all those third round picks ?

But worst of all was leaving Pavel Dorofeyev on the table, that was a steal for Vegas, lets hope Misyul turns out to be a better prospect.
- cu45161

I know its increased recently but I think they are still weary on investing higher picks on russians but dont mind in late rounds.

As for the fins are they both not like 5'9 or am I gett8ng mixed up lol? I dont like passing up talent but if its the same what you already got I cant blame them for looking at what we dont have.

I am a little bumbed these guys have safer ceilings but at least they are great skaters it seems as long as we arent taking chances on guys who struggle at skating.

Todd seemed kind of ho hum on the Michael Vukojevic pick, but I really liked that one at #82. All the scouting reports on him talk about good hockey IQ, foot speed and shut down ability. That's something we've lacked in our shut down guys. Mueller is susceptible to brain farts, Lovejoy and mobility aren't words you really see together. If we got a bottom pair, PK guy who has good speed, size and smarts and plays well in his own end I think we got a good one there.
- smellmyfinger

He was couldnt stop smiling I loved it. Kids are getting excited to come here and be selected by the Devils good times ahead !

I know its increased recently but I think they are still weary on investing higher picks on russians but dont mind in late rounds.

As for the fins are they both not like 5'9 or am I gett8ng mixed up lol? I dont like passing up talent but if its the same what you already got I cant blame them for looking at what we dont have.

I am a little bumbed these guys have safer ceilings but at least they are great skaters it seems as long as we arent taking chances on guys who struggle at skating.
- Devilish4

It's increased because of the KHL contracts, take Podkolzin for example. Vancouver invested a #10 pick in him and he won't be able to come over here for two more seasons, he becomes a star in the KHL and gets offered a boatload to stay home and they may never see him.

The Russian factor used to be BS about them being lazy or flaky, etc. But now there is a real risk tied to contracts with these players, if I were drafting and thought there were two fairly comparable players available, I would favor the North American player 100% of the time, especially if it is a CHL player where I didn't have to worry about free agency after college.

It's increased because of the KHL contracts, take Podkolzin for example. Vancouver invested a #10 pick in him and he won't be able to come over here for two more seasons, he becomes a star in the KHL and gets offered a boatload to stay home and they may never see him.

The Russian factor used to be BS about them being lazy or flaky, etc. But now there is a real risk tied to contracts with these players, if I were drafting and thought there were two fairly comparable players available, I would favor the North American player 100% of the time, especially if it is a CHL player where I didn't have to worry about free agency after college.
- smellmyfinger

I think if he fell to 15 I would have taken a shot at moving up for him.

I get the risk but sometimes that risk pays off huge and sometimes it doesnt.

I think that if anything the KHL is getting sketchier im not completely worried about them never coming over as I think you would have sniffed out how competitve they are before selecting them. The more competitive they are the more interest they should have in proving themself in the greatest league in the world.

You will get the odd ones for sure but to me its like fighters how many aim to be in the other fighting leagues and nothing more? Cant be many as you want to prove yourself against the best which would be the UFC in my example and the NHL in reality lol.

Am i going to be worried about him taking time to get here yeah probably but or am i worried about him leaving near the tail ejd yeah maybe but I dont know if I am as worried about them never coming over as you.

I also think that our experiences have made most of us devils fans this way had we drafted Taresenko at 17 and never dealt with kovy I think we would be on the other side of thise fence but some of us will never get over the kovy fiasco and I get that.

I also think that our experiences have made most of us devils fans this way had we drafted Taresenko at 17 and never dealt with kovy I think we would be on the other side of thise fence but some of us will never get over the kovy fiasco and I get that.
- Devilish4

It's not just the Kovy type risk, teams like to be in control of their own players development, and you just don't get that with most players still on KHL contracts. I wouldn't just write off a Russian and scratch him off my draft board, but it would certainly knock him down a few notches from where I would draft him if he were playing say in the QMJHL.

It's not just the Kovy type risk, teams like to be in control of their own players development, and you just don't get that with most players still on KHL contracts. I wouldn't just write off a Russian and scratch him off my draft board, but it would certainly knock him down a few notches from where I would draft him if he were playing say in the QMJHL.
- smellmyfinger

Ok I get that. Im in the same boat I guess what I am saying is I would love to have the opertunity to select one of those top five talent in the draft russians at like 17 to 20 where the risk becomes more worth it as the steal factor becomes much larger.

I wouldnt have picked Podz in the top ten as you said the contract is a little worriesom but on that note if it really isnt an issue these kids are going to be 2 years anyways.

I also wouldnt completely discredit a russians developement if he does develop in russia as some really good ones have.

Just curious with Seattle expansion

Who would need to be protected?

Nico would need to be since it will be after his ELC expires and Hughes is automatically protected due to his ELC

Just curious with Seattle expansion

Who would need to be protected?

Nico would need to be since it will be after his ELC expires and Hughes is automatically protected due to his ELC
- dmarsden2988

Take a peak, this could change a bit based on games played limits between now and then, but yes, you are correct in your assumption that Nico needs to be protected.

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/expansion-draft/seattle

You can only protect one goalie, might be an excellent way to dump Schneider in his last year of his contract and get out of that 6 mil hit.

Take a peak, this could change a bit based on games played limits between now and then, but yes, you are correct in your assumption that Nico needs to be protected.

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/expansion-draft/seattle

You can only protect one goalie, might be an excellent way to dump Schneider in his last year of his contract and get out of that 6 mil hit.
- smellmyfinger

Just because he is exposed doesnt mean he will be selected. If its anything like last time then I would do just as the Knights did and load up on young goalies with potential and hope one reaches it.

I also doubt Cory will be anywhere near the best goalie available to Seattle but I could be completly wrong.

Just because he is exposed doesnt mean he will be selected. If its anything like last time then I would do just as the Knights did and load up on young goalies with potential and hope one reaches it.

I also doubt Cory will be anywhere near the best goalie available to Seattle but I could be completly wrong.
- Devilish4

A few things to keep in mind. Seattle has to hit cap floor immediately and a veteran goalie on the last year of a deal that has a hit of 6 mil could be a low risk way to help do it, also, we could incentivize them to take Schneider the same way teams did with Vegas to get them to take certain players rather than others. 2021-22 is where things start to get tricky form a cap perspective for NJ.

Hall will hopefully be extended beyond that, Subban will still be on the books, Blackwood, Hischier, Bratt, Butcher will be on their second contract, Palmieri and Coleman will be a UFAs and Smith and Hughes will be on the last years of their ELC.

NJ is very safe from cap hell for the next two seasons, after that it starts to get dicey.

Take a peak, this could change a bit based on games played limits between now and then, but yes, you are correct in your assumption that Nico needs to be protected.

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/expansion-draft/seattle

You can only protect one goalie, might be an excellent way to dump Schneider in his last year of his contract and get out of that 6 mil hit.
- smellmyfinger

Does Schneider have a nmc and if so does that impact if he has to be protected?

Does Schneider have a nmc and if so does that impact if he has to be protected?
- dmarsden2988

Schneider is NTC, he doesn't have to be protected, only full NMCs have too.

If you scroll through there's some bad ones. Minny has to protect Suter and Parise who will both be 37.

Schneider is NTC, he doesn't have to be protected, only full NMCs have too.

If you scroll through there's some bad ones. Minny has to protect Suter and Parise who will both be 37.
- smellmyfinger

Holy poop

Schneider is NTC, he doesn't have to be protected, only full NMCs have too.

If you scroll through there's some bad ones. Minny has to protect Suter and Parise who will both be 37.
- smellmyfinger

Good lol

25yr old Trouba would've been ideal to keep through his prime, but with PK, at least we have him in his prime, cap isn't an issue, and when he's 33 we can see where we're at in terms of cap and his play. Hopefully by then, Smith exceeds our wildest dreams and can be like a Duncan Keith. That's what I think of when I think of him.. based on the minimal play I've seen.

Not that there's all that much to choose from, but Nyqvist would be top of my list.. though I really wouldn't want to give him more than 6mil/4yrs. Dzingle would be #2 on the UFA list and would come cheaper, but meh. Panarin would simply cost too much to do long-term, with Hall, Hughes and Hischier destined to get big money deals.

I think Nyqvist's experience, consistency, skill, and still having some jump would be ideal with Hughes and Bratt or Palmieri.

or we could wait until 2020, as there's a much bigger crop of UFAs. But I think Hughes needs a Nyqvist right now.

I looked at expansion - NJ has a bunch of prospects they can expose, but they'll keep all their good pieces. Might cost a guy like Coleman, Wood, or maybe Schneider unless Ray strikes a deal with the team not to take Blackwood.

I looked at expansion - NJ has a bunch of prospects they can expose, but they'll keep all their good pieces. Might cost a guy like Coleman, Wood, or maybe Schneider unless Ray strikes a deal with the team not to take Blackwood.
- archromat

The expansion draft is June 2021. Schneider will be 35 and heading into the last year of the deal that pays him 6 per. Unless Blackwood crashes and burns catastrophically, we should absolutely be exposing Schneider.

The expansion draft is June 2021. Schneider will be 35 and heading into the last year of the deal that pays him 6 per. Unless Blackwood crashes and burns catastrophically, we should absolutely be exposing Schneider.
- smellmyfinger

no doubt. fingers crossed that's who gets picked. Schneider or Wood. We'll have quite a few nice pieces I'd like to keep though. If the NHL could stop expanding during our attempt at a rebuild, that would be great. . .as if all the other teams aren't also subjected to the same thing..