Speculation: 2017 Offseason/Expansion Draft Part II

[MadDevil]

I seem to recall a good portion of the board wanting to either pick a forward or Hanifin if he fell to #6, or trade down. And I believe Shero and Jarmo were talking quite heavily right before we made the pick, so it was probably about us dropping to #8. Philly was supposedly high on Zacha as well though, and I don't think they wanted to risk passing on both Zacha and Provorov (who would have probably been the player Columbus was trading up for). I think the only way we would have gone defense with the pick is if Hanifin had fallen to #6.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I seem to recall a good portion of the board wanting to either pick a forward or Hanifin if he fell to #6, or trade down. And I believe Shero and Jarmo were talking quite heavily right before we made the pick, so it was probably about us dropping to #8. Philly was supposedly high on Zacha as well though, and I don't think they wanted to risk passing on both Zacha and Provorov (who would have probably been the player Columbus was trading up for). I think the only way we would have gone defense with the pick is if Hanifin had fallen to #6.

It is revisionist history, and revisionist history based on only 60 NHL games played. Something that is extra dumb. Doing a redraft this soon is dumb. 5+ years down the line I get, but come on. Most of the class isn't even in the NHL yet.

 

[MichaelJ]

I seem to recall a good portion of the board wanting to either pick a forward or Hanifin if he fell to #6, or trade down. And I believe Shero and Jarmo were talking quite heavily right before we made the pick, so it was probably about us dropping to #8. Philly was supposedly high on Zacha as well though, and I don't think they wanted to risk passing on both Zacha and Provorov (who would have probably been the player Columbus was trading up for). I think the only way we would have gone defense with the pick is if Hanifin had fallen to #6.

Don't know if it's true but I remember reading Columbus had Werenski as their guy regardless.

 

[MadDevil]

Don't know if it's true but I remember reading Columbus had Werenski as their guy regardless.

Could be. Their conversation at the draft might not have been about us trading down anyway. I was just guessing based on where the two teams picked. They might have been talking about some other trade. Hell, they might have been discussing where they were going to have dinner that night.

It's all Monday morning quarterbacking anyway. Just because Prospect A makes an immediate impact doesn't mean he's necessarily going to be better than Prospect B, who may take a few years to make a similar impact. Plus, had we taken Provorov instead our forward group would look worse and we'd be looking to fill a need there instead of on defense.

 

[NJDevs26]

I seem to recall a good portion of the board wanting to either pick a forward or Hanifin if he fell to #6, or trade down. And I believe Shero and Jarmo were talking quite heavily right before we made the pick, so it was probably about us dropping to #8. Philly was supposedly high on Zacha as well though, and I don't think they wanted to risk passing on both Zacha and Provorov (who would have probably been the player Columbus was trading up for). I think the only way we would have gone defense with the pick is if Hanifin had fallen to #6.

Just imagine the ripping they would have gotten now if they DID go defense and it wound up being Hanifin, who was the consensus #1D over Provorov and Werenski on draft day. In fact Provorov was 2 and Werenski was 3 among D rankings. That just goes to show second-guessing is silly, especially at this point. People act like we picked Zacha over higher-rated defensemen, that just wasn't true. 6-18 was supposed to be more or less order of personal preference/each team's individual board. Zacha's a good kid and clearly skilled, we haven't seen the best of him yet.

It's also funny some of the same people who complain we'll never pick high enough to get an impact player complain that we passed on Werenski, who's proof you don't neccesarily need to draft top five to get an impact player.

 

[217 Forever]

Don't know if it's true but I remember reading Columbus had Werenski as their guy regardless.

They were after a defenseman no question.

 

[Edmonton East]

I know I've made it clear I'm 100% anti Alzner this offseason, but still wanted to share one of his comments on sports radio this morning. He's always a great interview and seems like a good guy. That said, the hosts asked him about painful blocked shots and what not. He responded with back of knee, but then proceeded to talk about the running joke in his household that he can't open jars so his wife needs to do it since his hand has been broken so many times while blocking pucks.

While this may be true for a lot of players, I'm sure his agent is gonna roll his eyes after hearing the audio.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I would not sign Alzner

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Alzner's new contract is going to be Orpik 2.0

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

I was largely a Zacha skeptic pre-2015 draft, and at this juncture I am very happy with the pick. He has progressed significantly each year. Not sure why anyone would regret that pick with how things have played out thus far.

 

[MakoSlade]

I was largely a Zacha skeptic pre-2015 draft, and at this juncture I am very happy with the pick. He has progressed significantly each year. Not sure why anyone would regret that pick with how things have played out thus far.

Provorov and Werenski and our need of defense likely leads to the regrets. Regardless, Zacha was a great pick and I hope he gets back in action soon.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We have a need for forwards and centers too, and it would be a much greater need if we didn't have Zacha

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Provorov and Werenski and our need of defense likely leads to the regrets. Regardless, Zacha was a great pick and I hope he gets back in action soon.

Yeah, but if we're being fair, very few people thought defense was a significant need going forward in June 2015, when we had a younger Greene, Larsson, Severson, Gelinas and Merrill. That would be using major hindsight.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Yeah, but if we're being fair, very few people thought defense was a significant need going forward in June 2015, when we had a younger Greene, Larsson, Severson, Gelinas and Merrill. That would be using major hindsight.

This. Absolutely nobody wanted Provorov at the time because our forwards were downright awful. This was pre Palmieri and Hall as well. There was no Speers, McLeod, Bastian, Gignac, Anderson, etc. I think many of us were very aware of how good Provorov was (I would have been fine with taking him), but the need at forward was huge.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Our defense need wasn't as urgent at the time. We had Larsson, Severson, Greene, and Merrill all in the NHL with Santini and Jacobs looking very promising.

Besides, it wasn't even necessarily a need pick. You could make a legitimate case in June 2015 that Zacha had the highest CEILING of any non-McEichel player in the draft. His combination of size, speed, mean streak, and lethal shot made him a very intriguing prospect. People were talking about him with names like Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Eric Staal, and others.

The only question was his low production in his draft year, which a lot of people will willing to write off due to suspension, injury, adjustment to NA ice, and the aforementioned skills package.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Just pick the BPA going forward....

 

[ChicoEatsNachos]

I know I would have had kittens if we drafted a defenseman at 6 in 2015 and I think most other people would have as well.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I think its a better strategy to draft defensmen late 1st early 2nd round.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

I think its a better strategy to draft defensmen late 1st early 2nd round.

This.

Defensemen seem to be more difficult to project than forwards coming out of juniors/college. Just take a glance at the top 20 forwards in the NHL and see how many of them were top five picks compared to the top 20 defensemen.

As a result, it's probably a bit riskier to take a defenseman that high.

 

[Zippy316]

Alzner's new contract is going to be Orpik 2.0

Teams have been much better with avoiding ridiculous contracts since that off-season. Orpik also played in two Stanley Cups with one ring as well as two Olympic Games with a silver medal.

Alzner has nothing close to that. I think Alzner gets a 5-6 year deal in the 4.5 million range. I'm still a little skeptical about that deal, but I think he could definitely fill a use for the right price in NJ.

 

[Zippy316]

Yeah, but if we're being fair, very few people thought defense was a significant need going forward in June 2015, when we had a younger Greene, Larsson, Severson, Gelinas and Merrill. That would be using major hindsight.

I recall many wanted a forward but would've understood if the Devils picked Provorov. Team also needed a LD with how Merrill and Gelinas were looking at that time.

Werenski was definitely an afterthought.

 

[Burner Account]

This board was enamored with Mathew Barzal last year

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This board was enamored with Mathew Barzal last year

well, a certain poster, at least.

 

[OmNomNom]

This board was enamored with Mathew Barzal last year

naw naw, that was 2 years ago. last year was clayton keller

 

[Better Call Sal]

I was a Barzal fan moreso than Zacha, but could see why he would have been a risk at 6 given his lack of size and his lack of goal scoring. Zacha made sense at the time given our need for young offensive talent and him having all the tools to be a productive NHL player.

As mentioned above, the need for defense was not there at that time.