New Jersey Devils 2019 Mock Draft

Round 4

Yaroslav Likhachyov is a player who left Russia to come play in North America to get ready for the NHL Draft. Many players before him made the same move. He was once a highly-touted prospect, but has since plummeted down draft boards. This might be a good place for Shero to take a chance on a player with a ton of upside.

He’s the first true right wing on this list, which might be the most surprising part of this whole pick (although there were multiple wingers who could play both sides). He excelled in his native Russia playing for the under 16 league where he scored 37 goals. After he started to upgrade in leagues, his production took a major hit. It hit the bottom this season when he scored just 12 goals after moving to the QMJHL.

While it’s been a rough two years for Likhachyov, he has some serious talent that in the right situation he can truly thrive. He’s already come over from Russia, showing his ultimate goal is to play in the NHL.

Despite the results from his regular season leagues, his production during the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is likely what’s going to catch Ray Shero’s eye. He scored seven points in five games to help Russia capture the bronze medal.

There is one word that many use to describe Likhachyov, and that’s exciting. He can make plays, and he does so very well. He’s just one to have a serious cold streak that can last weeks, but then he can score a hat trick. Maybe it’s mental, but it sounds like it’s something within him that he has to figure out.

Round 5

This one is a hard one. Tag Bertuzzi has the famous last name (father is Todd Bertuzzi and his cousin is Tyler), but hasn’t had near the production we expect. He almost played himself out of the draft entirely at points during the season. He’s had injury issues, and a concussion ruined most of his first season with Guelph. In his second season, he was traded to Hamilton in December. He expected that to be the fresh start he needed, but it didn’t work out at all. He got hurt in his first game, and didn’t play again all season.

So why would the Devils draft a player with so many players at 127? This kid can flat out play. He needs to show more on the score sheet, but he seems like someone who just needs a team to believe in him. The Devils could be that team.

It’s the most boom or bust pick of this draft. Bertuzzi could figure it out next season, play really, really well, and crazy the top 20 Devils prospects almost immediately. However, things could completely fall apart. If that happens, he may be out of hockey completely in five years.

It’s taking a serious chance, but we are past pick 100, and it’s worth it to take a chance on a guy who in the right situation in Juniors could have been a 2nd-round pick.

6th Round

It wouldn’t be a Ray Shero draft if he didn’t take a goalie at some point. Mack Guzda isn’t going to have anyone worried about their job security off the bat based off his numbers, but his logistics are really good. He’s got great side to side agility, and his leg pad saves are the stuff of legend. Unfortunately, he still has issues above the shoulders.

More from Pucks and Pitchforks

• Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
• New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
• New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
• New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
• Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?

He’s extremely smart, winning the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award. He just needs to put together his ability and his intelligence to make himself a great hockey player.

Guzda’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. He may only have a an .878 save percentage on the season, but he regularly makes goal-saving saves behind a torrid Owen Sound defense. Just look at the playoffs. In their first two games against the Soo Greyhounds, he faced 91 shots. What’s a goalie to do when he’s under siege like that?

Shero should take Guzda in this position. With some years to develop, he could be good. Not sure how good, but he can be good enough to make some noise on the prospect rankings.

7th Round

Taro Jentzsch is a prospect you don’t hear about much because he’s German! There are currently eight German players in the NHL. It’s an interesting group, and Jentzsch could soon be among them.

Taro has great vision on the ice, and uses his power to create offense. This player is all upside, and that’s what Ray Shero should be looking for in the 7th round.

He scored 42 points for Sherbrooke Phoenix this season, his first in the QMJHL. That’s actually quite impressive because of the circumstances.

He falls to the 7th round because he is an over ager and his speed doesn’t compare to his fellow prospects. However, he feels like the kind of pick the Devils make in this position. He could become an NHL player, and most teams don’t get that this late in the draft.