Grading Every New Jersey Devils NHL Draft Pick
By Nick Villano
Scouting Report. D. Omaha Lancers. Chase Cheslock. player. 85. Pick Analysis. 154
Chase Cheslock is a defenseman that has analysts all over the place. Speaking of all over the place, let’s talk about his draft year. He played for four different teams in four different leagues this season. He spent a game with the US National Development Program, along with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, the St. Cloud Norsemen of the NAHL, and Rogers High School.
This is a player who came from relative obscurity to become a fifth-round pick by the Devils. That’s a huge risk by Tom Fitzgerald, but he did that because he thinks this pick is going to continue to progress. That’s fine since it happened in the fifth round. This is where the Devils can take some risks.
Cheslock is a long way away from even sniffing the NHL. He is going back to the USHL next season, and he will go to the University of St. Thomas after that. This will take some time to see what the Devils have, which is what happens with fifth-round defensemen. Still, this seemed like an unnecessary risk. The Devils have plenty of defensemen in the prospect pool, but it is what it is.
It’s just too early to even know what kind of defenseman he is. He is 6’3 and already over 200 lbs. His numbers show he has a physical element to his game that’s good. Overall, there’s a lot of time before we know whether we can like this pick.