New Jersey Devils: Evaluating prospect Michael Vukojevic

The New Jersey Devils have lots of good prospects in the organization, but this one in particular made an impression at development camp.

The New Jersey Devils are building around a very young core and are trying to build a team that will have sustained success. It has pretty much been built from the ground up. The rebuilding hasn’t done much for the on-ice product prior to this season, but it is all coming together. That might be helped along by new Devils’ prospect Michael Vukojevic.

He was selected in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft, 82nd overall. This could turn out to be one of the mid-round steals of the draft. He had a really good development camp and raised some eyebrows with his play. He is a mobile, shut down defenseman that looked in Development Camp like he has some skill as well.

Vukojevic is coming off of a good season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. As a shutdown defenseman, he had three goals and 26 assists in 68 games. He is hoping that one day he can bring his skill set to the NHL and help his team keep the puck out of their own net.

I reached out to Kitchener Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie, who is also the son of TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie, to ask him what specific skills he sees Michael bringing to the New Jersey Devils if/when he arrives in the NHL? His response was:

"“He is a big, mobile and smart player. He will be very solid defensively and a guy that can be used against other teams top players. He has the ability to be a shutdown, hard-to-play-against type of player at the pro level”"

That is high praise from his current GM. We are hoping that Vukojevic does live up to what his GM had to say about him when he does get to the NHL. The Devils are in desperate need for a guy like that in their lineup, especially if he is 6’3″ and 212 lbs like Vukojevic is.

I like the NHL comparable of Brandon Carlo. The Boston Bruins defense core is highlighted by guys like Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug, but Carlo is that true shutdown guy that isn’t relied upon for offense. All he is is an elite pure shutdown defenseman. If Vukojevic can come to the NHL and be Carlo that would be amazing for the New Jersey Devils.

All Devils fans should be rooting for him to go through the ranks and make his way to the Devils lineup someday. He would be a solid addition on the defense of the team going forward if he did ever reach the NHL.