Could the New Jersey Devils be drafting a defenseman at pick seven?
The New Jersey Devils are a team that needs help in pretty much all areas. They have three selections in the 2020 NHL Draft, but a lot of people are focused on their own pick which landed at seventh overall. This is a deep draft and some good players are going to have new NHL homes. There is a lot of speculation about who will be selected when, and the Devils pick is one that’s being focused on by many in the national media.
There are a lot of rumors floating around that the Devils are strongly considering a defenseman with the seventh-overall selection. That would mean that one of (or both) Jamie Drysdale or Jake Sanderson is available. They are two completely different skill sets, but they are the only two blueliners that are getting consideration for being top-10 picks.
Drysdale is the more aesthetically pleasing selection. He can skate, shoot, and has a ton of skill. He is the more offensive-minded defenseman of the two. The Devils already have a few of those that don’t know how to defend so it seems like a curious idea to think about Drysdale.
As far as Sanderson, there isn’t nearly as much offensive upside at all. He is projected to be a very good shut-down defenseman, but that might not be what you want with a seventh-overall pick. There are so many great forwards in this top-ten that it feels wrong to not snag one of them. The defensemen are good but the forwards are better. With all of that said, if they are to select a defenseman they better get it right.
The 2021 NHL Draft is loaded with defenseman near the top of the draft. If they struggle again next year, that might be the time to select a defenseman with a high draft pick. For now, it doesn’t seem like a good idea but that might be what they are leaning towards. Whatever they do, they need to be right. That also goes for the other two first-round picks as well. This is a deep draft, let’s take advantage!