After coming off a two-goal performance on Sunday and adding another goal on Tuesday, Jesper Bratt has 37 points in 38 games. The former 6th round pick/should have been All-Star leads the Devils in both goals and assists with 14 and 23 apiece. Among active 6th rounders, Bratt is third in points per game behind just Cam Atkinson and Mark Stone. It’s safe to say the New Jersey Devils found a diamond in the rough in the budding star, but what other steals have Lou Lamoriello and company found over the years in the NHL Draft. In this ranking, we’ll identify the ten biggest draft steals in New Jersey’s history:
Honorable Mentions:
Yegor Sharangovich
2018: Round 5, Pick 141
A former 5th rounder, it’s too early to tell the trajectory of his career. He may be ranked if this ranking came out last year when he scored 16 goals as a rookie. This year though, outside of a post-Christmas goal streak, he’s been in a slump.
Deryk Engelland
2000: Round 6, Pick 194
A 6th-round pick back in 2000, Engelland never played a game for the Devils. However, after almost a decade of being in the AHL, he finally got the call and played nearly 700 big league games. He also served as a key leader for the Golden Knights in their inaugural season.
Willie Mitchell
1996: Round 8, Pick 199
Another Devils draft pick that had an extremely short tenure, Mitchell only played two seasons with the Devils before being shipped off to Minnesota. Mitchell would go on to play 900 games at the NHL level, although having been an 8th round selection.