Chase Stillman
This one might come with a groan, but the Devils are all in on making Chase Stillman a worthwhile first-round pick. It doesn’t matter where he was ranked at the time. The Devils made the pick, and they are going to make the best of it now. Stillman was given a chance at training camp this season, but he was eventually sent back to the OHL. He is spending a full season with the Sudbury Wolves, his this full season in the OHL.
We tend to see players really hit their stride in their third full season of juniors. Stillman wasn’t exactly bad last season, but he was traded to his hometown Sudbury in the middle of the season, and it didn’t lead to a better scoring record.
Stillman’s season is set to end on March 26th. Even with playoffs, there could be a few games that the Devils still have left. They might want to get Stillman in at the end of the year if it’s not a make-or-break time for the playoffs. If the playoffs aren’t in doubt, the Devils will let Stillman make his NHL debut.
This one seems like the least likely because of timing, The Wolves are considered a team that could surprise, but they aren’t exactly a favorite either. They likely won’t go very far, and Stillman will have a chance to show his skills in the big leagues.