NEWARK, NJ, – The New Jersey Devils have missed the NHL playoffs for the past five seasons in a row, something that a once proud franchise, who has won more than one Stanley Cup, is not proud of. Still, despite their lack of recent success, the ping pong balls finally went their way.
The Devils won the NHL Draft Lottery and hold the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Two players appear to be the perfect fit in North Jersey in the upcoming draft: Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier. Both are centers, and the Devils need everything, but getting a first line center is never a bad thing. In this case a great thing. The Devils had three 20 goal plus scorers and adding a player with 30 plus goal potential.
The Devils have always been defensive minded and would love to take one of the top rated d-men, but this time around New Jersey can’t walk away looking to fill a need, its best-player-available time. Both players will fit in perfectly in a Devils uniform but only one can be a Devil, leaving the other to longtime rival, the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Devils could trade down in a year where there is no clear cut prospect at the top of the draft. That said New Jersey isn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth and walk away. With that said, let the ProHockeyNews Mock Draft begin with New Jersey Devils making the following announcement in Chicago.
“With the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils select, from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, Nolan Patrick”
The Philadelphia Flyers are now on the clock.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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