We used the Pucks and Pitchforks writers to see where the New Jersey Devils could go in the NHL Draft.
This year’s 1st round of the NHL Draft might be the most important in New Jersey Devils history. They have three picks in the round for the first time ever. With the future of the franchise a complete mystery, this year’s draft could make or break their future. They already have Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier as 1st-overall picks on the roster, but there’s not much else to go home about.
This year’s draft could give them one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. They already have really good prospects in Ty Smith and Jesper Boqvist, plus some really intriguing players in Joey Anderson, Janne Kuokkanen, Reilly Walsh, Graeme Clarke, and a host of others. The list of good prospects goes past 20 for the Devils, but the list of great ones ends at Boqvist. That could end this season with these three 1st rounders.
So, who might the Devils take? We reached out to Pucks and Pitchforks writers Vinnie Parise, Dave Browne, Rob DeLuca, and Charlie Borges Jr for some top-notch analysis. Then, we invited David Lebovitz along for some much-needed comic relief. They all gave us their choices for picks 6, 10, and 17. We wanted to show just how different the Devils drafting could look. There are dozens of different combinations the Devils could pick, and our writers made completely different selections.
To give us a guide to who might be available at those picks, we use NHL.com’s Mike Morreale, a Devils writer who also delves into the NHL Draft. This piece is their most recent mock draft. That means Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Tim Stuetzle, and Jake Sanderson are all off the board when the Devils pick at six. So, who should the Devils take next? Let’s not waste any time.