New Jersey Devils Lead Scout Gives Insight To Draft Position
With the recent New Jersey Devils official Podcast with Amanda Stein (NJ Devils team beat writer), and Radio host Matt Loughlin conducting the podcast with Devils Director of Amateur Scouting, Paul Castron. There was a lot to be said from the recent podcast, but before we go into full details let’s take a look at some of his quotes.
"“Don’t put too much stock into how Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko are performing at #IIHFWorlds. So much more goes into consideration for the first overall pick”"
To put this into perspective, the due diligence of Castron’s work with Assistant GM Tommy Fitzgerald and Devils GM Ray Shero are very likely set on picking Jack Hughes. In today’s game you can find some really special game-breakinig snipers to play on the wings. Although it is a lot harder to come across a really special talent in a player like Jack Hughes.
The Devils mantra since the 2015-2016 offseason has been “fast, attacking, and supportive.” Jack Hughes is fast with and without the puck. He can attack offensively and defensively. He’s a strong puck-handler along with covering his own man on odd-man rushes.
Jack has shown that he was able to put up a physical game against potential number two pick Kaapo Kakko. Hughes kept Kakko scoreless that day, and it made me as a fan, and contributor to make note of that moment.
When Ray Shero was the GM in Pittsburgh, he already had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin anchoring the 1-2 center lines. Shero in his first draft in Pittsburgh selected Jordan Staal 2nd overall in 2006. Staal went onto have 42 points, and 29 goals that season.
If history is an indicator of the future, Shero invests a lot of his trust in his centers, and he will trade for wingers that can score or guys that are excellent bottom-six wingers that can fill out the lines. Also lately it seems The Devils have seem to be hitting a lot of late rounders whom are forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders in the late rounds.
Players like Kaapo Kakko aren’t as fast as Jack Hughes, but those type of players are power forwards that just happen to be above average for skaters with a pretty good shot. However Jack Hughes is someone who has the stature of Patrick Kane with a similar frame. But a player like Hughes is a special player the Devils never had in their history to be a Franchise Center.
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Having Hughes is someone who thinks so fast and skates like a bullet train, and makes passes at turbo speed with ease. He’s someone that has brought me out of my own seat at times watching highlights, and on tv. His defense is very exciting to watch since he’s growing as a young 18 year old. This kid is a very unselfish player who isn’t afraid to cover his man on odd-man rushes.
He’s someone to be aware of with and without the puck, but you should see him grow up and become a super star that can do a lot of great things Shero and Castron could earn more than their own salaries with the way he plays.
Ray Shero knows he can make trades to bolster the defense along with Ty Smith coming up next season. If there is any indication of the team making the playoffs they could make a trade like the one for Sami Vatanen. When Ray brings in talent, Taylor Hall will sign an extension, and get more new players like Jeff Skinner, or possibly Jordan Eberle to build leadership and team stability.
Speaking of stability, that’s what the team has when they add Hughes and have Nico Hischier anchoring the top-six center positions. Travis Zajac will provide veteran leadership on the 3rd line, and there is a possibility Ray brings back Brian Boyle. Boyle is not only a fan favorite to a lot of Devils fans. He provides a physical game, and a more gritty style that bugs opposing goaltenders since he’s such a tall center.
In a more perfect world after the NHL Draft and Free Agency is done, it’s very tempting to see how the defense looks. The lines could look like Andy Greene-Sami Vatanen, Will Butcher–Damon Severson, and Ty Smith-Connor Carrick. Goaltending is currently 1A) Cory Schneider 1B) Mackenzie Blackwood and 2A) is call-up potential is Cam Johnson.
If we’re projecting the next 2 seasons I still feel we are 1 or 2 season left in the rebuild, unless more draft picks from recent Devils drafts start to improve the teams points total from 72 points to 98 points in that range.