The New Jersey Devils season is likely over, and they will end up with the sixth-overall pick in the NHL Draft, barring another lottery win. Who are some of the names they should consider with the pick?
We’re going into full offseason mode for the New Jersey Devils, now that it looks like the season won’t start until at best mid May. There’s no chance the Devils will be able to finish off those final 13 games, which might be for the best. In the most tumultuous season in franchise history, it’s only fitting to end things earlier than expected.
So, let’s jump right into the NHL Draft, something that can get us excited while we wait for real hockey to resume. The Devils appear to have three 1st-round picks, which will fall in the sixth spot (their own pick), the 10th spot (Arizona Coyotes’ pick acquired in the Taylor Hall trade) and the 17th spot (Vancouver Canucks pick acquired in the Blake Coleman trade).
This is a pretty nice haul for a season that ends with a lot of uncertainty. Hopefully, the league still puts a postseason together in order to get Vancouver (and Carolina, who we could get a 3rd-round pick from in the Sami Vatanen trade) in the postseason.
The Devils are facing the most important offseason possibly in franchise history. With Lou Lamoriello at the helm for so long, and Ray Shero taking over while he was still here, they haven’t gone on a GM search in three decades. Now, they have to find a new GM, a new head coach and need to fill four to five glaring holes on this roster. The sixth-overall pick could be the start to that filling right off the top.
These five options for the Devils could equal a great fit now and for a long time.