The New Jersey Devils got a second 1st-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by sending Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to the New York Islanders a few days before the trade deadline. It was a deal that worked out for everyone. Palmieri played a key role in the Islanders run to the semi-finals, and Zajac added a veteran presence to the bottom six that could come in and out of the lineup at any time. The Devils ate half of Zajac and Palmieri’s salaries, and really only got the pick in the deal.
This isn’t the strongest draft, but as the scouting process has gone on, there is actually some really good value late in the 1st round. There are some players that could turn into something great. Some are late bloomers who have an interesting skill set, while others haven’t hit that peak yet but the tools are there.
When it comes to forwards, there are names that are moving up draft boards. Fabian Lysell was once mocked in the 20s, but now he’s more likely to go sometime between 15 and 19. Too many teams are talking about his upside to let him slip too far. Mason MacTavish rocketed up the NHL draft boards and now could be a top-10 pick. Two goalies are expected to go in the top 20, which will be the first time two goalies are drafted in the first round since the 2012 NHL Draft.
There is a lot going on here, but with so much changing at the last second, that is going to cause teams to miss on players that should have been drafted higher. This is where the Devils jump in. They should be able to get a really good player at 29 who might need a year or two of seasoning. These five players would be great additions to the Devils prospect pool if they fall to them at 29.