New Jersey Devils: Pucks And Pitchforks Official 1st-Round Draft Picks

David Holliday: Luke Hughes

While this is the most obvious choice for the franchise it is also a very good selection. The Devils defense has been lackluster since 2012 and although they have some good young prospects no one outside of Smith is a sure thing to be an NHL player long term. Hughes is the youngest high-end pick of this draft missing the cutoff by 6 days and even so managed to put up some impressive numbers. At 6’2 with strong skating, transitional play, and room to grow, Hughes could end up being the best defender in the draft so taking Jack Hughes’s brother is a smart hockey move even if you disregard his last name.

Rob DeLuca: Luke Hughes

Unless the 17-year-old brother of Jack Hughes is taken with the third-overall pick this is exactly who we are taking. The Devils are going to be doing everything in their power to keep the superstar center happy, and if that means drafting his brother so be it. This should not be looked at as just taking him for the sake of keeping Jack happy. Luke Hughes is actually a very talented offensive defenseman with a ton of upside and room to grow his defensive game. Taking him would be a small project but I highly expect him to thrive at the University of Michigan next season and beyond. There is nobody in this draft that is NHL ready anyway so might as well take the best player available at the pick we have, which happens to be the player with the highest ceiling as well.

David Lebovitz: Luke Hughes

It’s easy to say that the Devils should draft Luke on familial connection alone. I can’t pretend that isn’t a consideration here. But sometimes things just line up: the Devils badly need help on defense and there’s a good chance he’ll be available at this spot. If he’s anything like his other brother Quinn, he might be ready to join the lineup sooner rather than later as well.

Luke Garrison: Luke Hughes

It might be the most apparent pick amongst the fanbase, but it makes sense. We want to make Jack happy, and drafting his brother would be an excellent start. Hughes is a very talented defenseman that the Devils need. Like Jack, Luke is known for his speed, which the team likes. Luke is also known for his ability to try and fight for the puck.  Even though he couldn’t play an entire season last year with the USNTDP due to a leg injury, Hughes should be ready to play again sometime soon. If the Devils end up drafting him, it may take a while before he gets called up. Luke is playing at Michigan next year, from which a ton of prospects of this draft originate. When he is called up to the NHL level, he could become part of a Devils defense that could be nasty. It all depends on if Ty Smith can pan out, and recently acquired Ryan Graves can showcase himself as our best defenseman next year. The only thing we have to hope for is that the Anaheim Ducks or Seattle Kraken don’t take him.

Dave Brown: Dylan Guenther

The Devils are going defense here, right? I mean, they have to. It is an organizational need as the Devils lack a true number one defenseman. Also, top defensive prospects Luke Hughes and Brandt Clarke have brothers Jack and Graeme Clarke in the organization. The choice could come down to those two defensemen, or even Simon Edvinsson. But what if General Manager Tom Fitzgerald pulls an ace out of his sleeve, and selects the best pure goal scorer in the draft in right-wing Dylan Guenther. if available. 2020 1st round draft pick Alexander Holtz and Guenther would give the Devils two dynamic right-winger snipers to help fill out their top-6 for the foreseeable future. What was once a huge hole in their organization could become a strength with Guenther, Holtz, and Clarke.

Sam Woo: Luke Hughes

There is no way that the Devils will pass up Luke Hughes if he is available at number 4. Or else Jack Hughes would be mad! Okay, seriously. The Devils need a defenseman and Hughes has decent size to go along with his raw skill. Pick the best available at the draft. Go with Luke!

Charlie Borges: Brandt Clarke

You thought this would be Luke Hughes, didn’t you? While Hughes would be a solid pick, the Devils do not need another left-handed defenseman in the system. Besides Damon Severson, PK Subban(maybe if Seattle doesn’t take him), and Reilly Walsh there are no notable right-handed defensemen in the organization. If the Devils take Hughes, they might be able to shift Ty Smith or Hughes to the right side and play their off hand. The safer bet would be to take Clarke and have a pair of Smith-Clarke until the end of time.

Clarke’s biggest knock is his skating. However, his offensive upside, ability to get the puck through transition, and ability to defend make up for it. Clarke was having a solid first season in the OHL prior to the event that must not be named and was on loan to HC Nove Zamky with his brother, Graeme. This may not be the brother-brother connection Devils fans may want in this draft, but it may be the smartest. The handedness of the player, offensive ability, and way he will fit into Lindy Ruff‘s system makes Clarke the pick. It may be a year or two before he makes it to the NHL, but Clarke projects to be a top-three defenseman.