Todd Cordell: Alexis Lafreniere is back on the table for the New Jersey Devils

Ultimately, it is fair in that the odds are not changed and the Devils are not really hurt by this at all. That said, it is disappointing that the NHL was perfectly fine in changing the draft system to take away our chance of winning the top pick without any reservation BUT doesn't want to remove the 8 additional playoff teams from the lottery.

The bottom 7 teams are getting Richard. We don't get to see our team play again and we were NOT eliminated from earning a playoff spot when the season ended. Montreal is in but they were arguably more of a tire fire then us. I know you have to draw the line somewhere but if you are going to draw that line to benefit a bunch of teams shouldn't we get some benefit as well?

The benefit is Gary Bettman didn't screw us more.

If Arizona goes on a deep run, the pick could slip as far as 31. Either way, the Devils are getting the pick unless Arizona wins a lottery pick. The chances of that happening are slim.

Chances are not slim when they have Hallsy still on their team.
Lets not forget he is the 1st overall pick magnet..

Chances are not slim when they have Hallsy still on their team.
Lets not forget he is the 1st overall pick magnet..
- StephaneRicher

Right now AZ has a 11.4% chance of picking in the top 3. I have no idea if that would be their odds if they lost the play in. So the term 'slim' is debatable but hat's the odds based on statistics. How superstition and Taylor Hall affect this is pretty immeasurable. Although I share your concern.

That said, I'm more concerned with the Vancouver pick. I'd rather take my chances with an unprotected pick next year.

Ultimately, it is fair in that the odds are not changed and the Devils are not really hurt by this at all. That said, it is disappointing that the NHL was perfectly fine in changing the draft system to take away our chance of winning the top pick without any reservation BUT doesn't want to remove the 8 additional playoff teams from the lottery.

The bottom 7 teams are getting Richard. We don't get to see our team play again and we were NOT eliminated from earning a playoff spot when the season ended. Montreal is in but they were arguably more of a tire fire then us. I know you have to draw the line somewhere but if you are going to draw that line to benefit a bunch of teams shouldn't we get some benefit as well?

The benefit is Gary Bettman didn't screw us more.
- Queenie_5_hole

I’m wondering if a better option would have been a round robin between the bottom teams in conferences, to get that 12th spot. Gives them some games and something to play for also. But ultimately a big problem is to many teams involved. It’s gonna cost the league a fortune as it is with the 24 teams coming back

But for instance... mtl-Buffalo-NJ-Ottawa-Detroit play vs each other one time each, and have reg season rules to determine winner with the most pts. That team gets play-in spot 12 and the rest are in the lottery. Just an idea I came up with haha because they really had to have 12 teams if you look at it all. Top 16 just wasn’t fair to too many teams

Imagine Pittsburgh wins 1OA.

I’m wondering if a better option would have been a round robin between the bottom teams in conferences, to get that 12th spot. Gives them some games and something to play for also. But ultimately a big problem is to many teams involved. It’s gonna cost the league a fortune as it is with the 24 teams coming back

But for instance... mtl-Buffalo-NJ-Ottawa-Detroit play vs each other one time each, and have reg season rules to determine winner with the most pts. That team gets play-in spot 12 and the rest are in the lottery. Just an idea I came up with haha because they really had to have 12 teams if you look at it all. Top 16 just wasn’t fair to too many teams
- Slimtj100

I think it would take too long. I'm not really pissed that we aren't in the play in round, but I think it sucks that the bottom teams might not play for 10 months and still have to split the lottery with teams who were given a shot in the "play in" round. I know it might not be the most realistic but would have loved to see a lottery tournament for draft order.

If the Devils get 1OA pick, we all know they are gonna pick the wrong guy just like Nico and Jack.

Yeah destroy another first overall pick

Woohoo lolol (frank)

If the Devils get 1OA pick, we all know they are gonna pick the wrong guy just like Nico and Jack.
- Itsjustarash

Right!

The idea of even 6th and 9th overall is so much more appealing than several more years of Hall. This could and maybe should be the off-season we load up for.. for a dynasty!!! MAYBE after this draft..including the guys already in the system.. Mmmmaybe we get a franchise forward capable of consistent 80pt seasons. Maybe 2!

The idea of even 6th and 9th overall is so much more appealing than several more years of Hall. This could and maybe should be the off-season we load up for.. for a dynasty!!! MAYBE after this draft..including the guys already in the system.. Mmmmaybe we get a franchise forward capable of consistent 80pt seasons. Maybe 2!
- MartysBetter88

How many 1st pick’s is Gary supposed to give you ??? You going for the Oil record ??

How many 1st pick’s is Gary supposed to give you ??? You going for the Oil record ??
- dozerD10

You understand Gary Bettman HATES New Jersey and wouldn't give us poop. He screwed us on that Kovy contract while letting the same garbage happen before and after we were fined.

Lucky? Seriously?

How about a team not named EDM or NJ win the lottery for a change.

How many 1st pick’s is Gary supposed to give you ??? You going for the Oil record ??
- dozerD10

I think you should read what he wrote again, then reply with something that actually makes sense.

Lucky? Seriously?

How about a team not named EDM or NJ win the lottery for a change.
- KINGS67

As long as it's no LA it would be OK.

But seriously, (frank) the Rangers. I never want to see them win poop.

If the Devils get 1OA pick, we all know they are gonna pick the wrong guy just like Nico and Jack.
- Itsjustarash

I'm sure you're just trolling, but the Devils at this point clearly picked right between Nico and Nolan, if you want to argue that in retrospect Pettersson (or even Makar) should have gone 1OA in 2017, that's fair enough, but at the time no legitimate prospect experts had those guys going 1OA, and the Devils would have been ridiculed for taking anyone other than Nico or Nolan in that spot.

Hughes and Kakko had pretty much identical rookie seasons, and Kakko was supposed to be the one that was more NHL ready between the two. Way to early to make a call on who should have gone 1OA last summer.

If the Devils win the lottery again I will laugh, we'd legit be the new Oilers at that point...but Lafreniere would look nice on Nico or Jack's wing...I'm fully expecting us to pick somewhere around 6th and will not complain.

Lucky? Seriously?

How about a team not named EDM or NJ win the lottery for a change.
- KINGS67

Not even going to mention Edmonton, but plenty of team win in the lottery See bold:

2016: Toronto (1 from 1); Winnipeg (2 from 6); Columbus (3 from 4)
2017: New Jersey (1 from 5); Philadelphia (2 from 13); Dallas (3 from 8)
2018: Buffalo (1 from 1); Carolina (2 from 11); Montreal (3 from 4)
2019: New Jersey (1 from 3); NYR (2 from 6); Chicago (3 from 12)

And a number of teams made much bigger jumps, we were just closer to the top with better odds. So blame the lottery system if you want, but don't blame us.

Should of had bottom 16 play to see who gets last 8 spots .... best of 5.

would have been
NYR -Detroit
Calgary-Ottawa
florida -San Jose
Nashville -LA
Van -anaheim
Minny -NJ
Ariz-Buffalo
CHicago MOntreal



.

How many 1st pick’s is Gary supposed to give you ??? You going for the Oil record ??
- dozerD10

our franchise has had 1st overall twice.. ever.. and both times there wasn't anything close to a generational talent available.. hoping one of Nico or Hughes will be a franchise guy. How many times do you have to hope that with a 1st overall? NJ gets gifted hopes and dreams.
The last time we won the lottery prior to Nico was in 2011 and that only bumped us to 4th overall where we got Larsson.. which somehow turned into Hall.. which will hopefully turn into a 8th-12th overall pick this year. .. which is a fair price for a MVP.

anyway, prior to 4th overall.. Devils hadn't picked top 5 since Scott Niedermayer 3rd overall in 1991!!.. and that pick was traded to NJ by Toronto! Guerin went 5th overall in 89.. Shanahan 2nd overall in 87.. but they were a dumpster fire in the late 80s.

so yes. The NHL gave the Devils 2 lower-tier 1st overall picks recently. Aside from that.. nuthn. hooray.

You understand Gary Bettman HATES New Jersey and wouldn't give us poop. He screwed us on that Kovy contract while letting the same garbage happen before and after we were fined.
- Queenie_5_hole

sigh Luongo. Yea.. I'll take 2 lower-tier 1st overalls for compensation for that absolute nonsense from the NHL. Seems like a fair trade.

Imagine Pittsburgh wins 1OA.
- rmdevil313

.. and we want the Habs to win too. .. or at least I do. That would be something. Do they have any potential legit prospects in the system? I feel like it's ride Crosby and Malkin till they're toast, then Guentzel, Rust and Murray/Jarry are younger. If they got Laf.. man oh man. It would keep them contenders longer, probably make Crosby's life a little easier later in his career.

.. and we want the Habs to win too. .. or at least I do. That would be something. Do they have any potential legit prospects in the system? I feel like it's ride Crosby and Malkin till they're toast, then Guentzel, Rust and Murray/Jarry are younger. If they got Laf.. man oh man. It would keep them contenders longer, probably make Crosby's life a little easier later in his career.
- MartysBetter88

(frank) PITTSBURGH. I don't want them to get poop.

Hey Todd,

Now that the season is officially over for NJ, do you think they will decide on a GM/coach soon to get a head start on the draft, player evaluations for next year? If so, have you herd anything?

Doesn't make sense to keep interim tag on Fitzgerald unless they are leaning towards someone else. If they are leaning elsewhere, why delay hiring while we plan for draft / next year unless the person they are looking at is contractually bound to a team until they are eliminated from the playoffs.

Thanks for your insight.

our franchise has had 1st overall twice.. ever.. and both times there wasn't anything close to a generational talent available.. hoping one of Nico or Hughes will be a franchise guy. How many times do you have to hope that with a 1st overall? NJ gets gifted hopes and dreams.
The last time we won the lottery prior to Nico was in 2011 and that only bumped us to 4th overall where we got Larsson.. which somehow turned into Hall.. which will hopefully turn into a 8th-12th overall pick this year. .. which is a fair price for a MVP.

anyway, prior to 4th overall.. Devils hadn't picked top 5 since Scott Niedermayer 3rd overall in 1991!!.. and that pick was traded to NJ by Toronto! Guerin went 5th overall in 89.. Shanahan 2nd overall in 87.. but they were a dumpster fire in the late 80s.

so yes. The NHL gave the Devils 2 lower-tier 1st overall picks recently. Aside from that.. nuthn. hooray.
- MartysBetter88

Wow, Guerin went 5th overall? I didn’t remember that. He has something in common with Zacha.....high first rounder for a 3rd liner (2nd line tweener)