NEWARK, NJ, – The New Jersey Devils must have the luck of the Irish in them. Despite missing the NHL playoffs seven of the last nine, the Devils somehow managed to win the 2019 NHL Draft Lottery. They won the lottery in 2017 as selected Nico Hischier. At the time Nolan Patrick was considered the consensus top prospect but Hischier impressed the Devils so much they determined that Hischier was the best player available.
Now in 2019 there appears to be a two horse race between Jack Hughes and Finland’s Kaapo Kakko as the top prospect heading into this year’s draft. The difference this time around is that Hughes has done nothing to lessen his ranking where in 2017 Patrick’s stock was going down if only due to injury issues. Kakko is no slouch and is very deserving of his ranking as well as the #2 prospect but there are some whispers that maybe Kakko, like Hischier, might end up changing the Devils minds.
The Devils have always been a defensive minded club and would have loved it if a defenseman like last year’s pick Rasmus Dahlin was available but the Devils are a year too late. This year Bowen Byram is easily the top defenseman heading into the draft but the Devils need two things if they are going to make the playoffs again: A healthy Taylor Hall, and more help offensive help for Hall. The Devils did have 10 players with 10 or more goals but only 2 had over 20. Having Hall and whomever the Devils take in the first round wouldn’t hurt their cause.
The Devils are a very poor defensive club, which is awkward to say when you consider that the Devils trademark during their cup days was defense and goaltending. The Devils could hold a fire sale and trade the first overall pick to the highest bidder considering it is a very forward heavy draft, but at the end of the day we expect New Jersey to take the best-player-available route and keeping the pick.
With that said expect the Devils to make the following announcement in Vancouver.
“With the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils are proud to select, from the USA Hockey’s National Development Program, Jack Hughes”
The New York Rangers are now on the clock.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com or on twitter at @FLYERSFAN22.
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