Prospect Info: 2022 Post-Deadline Devils-Centric Mock Draft 2.0 (thru NJ 2nd round)

[Captain3rdLine]

Would behoove the Devils to perhaps throw Smith and 5 to Seattle to move up to three? Is that enough? Is that too much?

Probably never gonna happen and that’s the kind of thing hat could make you look really stupid if the guy they take at 5 ends up better than the guy you take at 3 which happens all the time. Even worse if Smith does really well.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Not the best day for the devils draft odds. Devils picked up a point while Chicago and Seattle lost. Only positive is that Ottawa and is definitely out of reach. Only way we could pass them is if we win our final 4 games and they lose their final 3. That’s not gonna happen. We’re just a point back of Chicago now but have one more game to play then then. Seattle is highly unlikely to pass us too as they have to win 2 more games than us in the final 4 to pass us.

27. Chicago 63 (3 games)
28. New Jersey 62 (4 games)
29. Philadelphia 59 (4 games)
30. Seattle 58 (4 games)

Sunday games:
DET win vs NJD
PHI win vs PIT

 

[Eggtimer]

i cant see the Hawks and the Flyers winning another game this year.
Both are beyond awful right now. Only chajnce is if Hart steals a game but no way whoever the hell they have in Chicago steals a game.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Would behoove the Devils to perhaps throw Smith and 5 to Seattle to move up to three? Is that enough? Is that too much?

It will all depend on how Seattle has the prospects ranked. Seattle is tough to pinpoint because they are a new team with no known MO and myriad needs.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

i cant see the Hawks and the Flyers winning another game this year.
Both are beyond awful right now. Only chajnce is if Hart steals a game but no way whoever the hell they have in Chicago steals a game.

Do you want to bet on this? I will bet my life savings that at least one of them wins one more game.

 

[Guadana]

Here's a mini-mock after the Devils unfortunately pick up another loser point.

1 ARI Wright
2 MTL Slafkovsky
3 SEA Nemec
4 PHI Jiricek
5 NJ ???

There is a big question of what the Devils do in this situation, if their top 3 targets of Slafkovsky/Nemec/Jiricek are all gone.

Of course, the sensible thing would be to trade down. Teams will want to move up here for Logan Cooley, without any doubt. Both Detroit and Columbus have center as their foremost draft need, while Ottawa, Buffalo and San Jose also have needs up the middle.

The problem is, Fitzgerald has not shown the ability to trade down on draft day, which takes a certain type of savvy and guts. He had the chance to trade down before both the Mukhamadullin and Stillman picks, and he did not pull the trigger.

And yet, in this scenario, the smartest move would be to trade down, accrue more assets, and take a top forward who could slip a bit later (Nazar? Gauthier?) or a much needed RD in Ryan Chesley, who is the clear-cut #3 D in the draft after Jiricek and Nemec.

So, how about this? The Devils trade down with Detroit, who leap-frogs Columbus to get Cooley at #5. The Devils then get the Wings #8 overall pick and their 2nd rounder, currently #40 overall. So:

1 ARI Wright
2 MTL Slafkovsky
3 SEA Nemec
4 PHI Jiricek
5 DET Cooley
6 CLB Geekie
7 OTT Gauthier
8 NJ Nazar

Then, with two picks in the 2nd round (#37 and #40), the Devils can take a pair of RDs there:
#37 RD Sam Rinzel
#40 RD Noah Warren

Or, the Devils can take Ryan Chesley at #8, and then take a high-end F and middle six C with their 2nd round picks.
#37 Alexander Perevalov
#40 Bryce McConnell-Barker

Either way, I think a trade down strategy would benefit the Devils if they miss out on Jiricek and Nemec which, unfortunately, is looking more and more likely. I give Tom Fitzgerald high overall marks thus far as Devils GM, but his draft strategies -- as I've stated at length -- need to be improved. And I feel this year the Devils need to strategize for a trade-down scenario if their pick falls out of the top 4, and especially if it falls to 6 or 7.

Don’t break my heart.
slaf/Jiricek/Nemec are top priorities and losing them really hurts. It’s really painful that devils are dropping out from top 4. That’s remind me 2020 when we drop out of top-6.
And I’m afraid of dropping out of top-6 and losing a chance to draft Nazar and Gauthier too.

 

[Rydev]

Don’t break my heart.
slaf/Jiricek/Nemec are top priorities and losing them really hurts. It’s really painful that devils are dropping out from top 4. That’s remind me 2020 when we drop out of top-6.
And I’m afraid of dropping out of top-6 and losing a chance to draft Nazar and Gauthier too.

Im not sure if there is much separation from Holtz/Quinn/Rossi/Perfetti compared to the top-6 you speak of

I for one would be plenty happy with another Holtz-level prospect at 5-8 (the farthest we can fall is eighth, after the lottery).

But of course Id prefer winning the lottery! Otherwise, I have my self set mentally on picking between 5-8, with the most likely spot being 6th.

 

[Guadana]

Im not sure if there is much separation from Holtz/Quinn/Rossi/Perfetti compared to the top-6 you speak of

I for one would be plenty happy with another Holtz-level prospect at 5-8 (the farthest we can fall is eighth, after the lottery).

But of course Id prefer winning the lottery! Otherwise, I have my self set mentally on picking between 5-8, with the most likely spot being 6th.

You can check stats and you will answer the question. The only guy from top-6 who didnt play in nhl, have the real potential to be Norris trophy candidate.
in the draft day top six was locked. At least for a guy like me, who invest a lot of time in prospect watching.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Don’t break my heart.
slaf/Jiricek/Nemec are top priorities and losing them really hurts. It’s really painful that devils are dropping out from top 4. That’s remind me 2020 when we drop out of top-6.
And I’m afraid of dropping out of top-6 and losing a chance to draft Nazar and Gauthier too.

It’s only temporary. We’ll be in the top 2 on May 10

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

It will all depend on how Seattle has the prospects ranked. Seattle is tough to pinpoint because they are a new team with no known MO and myriad needs.

The Geekie brothers add another wrinkle. It is Ron Francis.

 

[StevenToddIves]

The Geekie brothers add another wrinkle. It is Ron Francis.

I'm not sure you can justify taking Geekie at #3 overall in this draft, but I suppose you never know.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

I'm not sure you can justify taking Geekie at #3 overall in this draft, but I suppose you never know.

Seattle could trade down.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Seattle could trade down.

Yes, but would Fitzgerald trade up?

 

[Billdo]

It will all depend on how Seattle has the prospects ranked. Seattle is tough to pinpoint because they are a new team with no known MO and myriad needs.

I was banking on them thinking Smith was enough of a sweetener to drop two spots.

 

[My3Sons]

You can check stats and you will answer the question. The only guy from top-6 who didnt play in nhl, have the real potential to be Norris trophy candidate.
in the draft day top six was locked. At least for a guy like me, who invest a lot of time in prospect watching.

In retrospect, I’m happy with Holtz. At the time I was really hoping Drysdale fell to NJ (mostly because he was seen as the best right shot defender) and now, while he’s an excellent prospect, I’m just not sure NJ needs another small offensively biased defender. Quinn had a tremendous season but Holtz is far from disappointing. Holtz fits a strong need for NJ so it’s hard to criticize NJ for selecting him. Now, I am disappointed NJ has gone out of its way to make a few pointless selections the past couple of drafts as if they are purposely avoiding right shot defenders. They should have been loading up on them in rounds four and lower and hoping one or two develop. Hard to see Vilen or Edwards doing much for NJ as lefties.

Edit - I know you meant Sanderson and yes he’d be a great prospect but with Luke Hughes on the way missing on him doesn’t sting me as much.

 

[Guadana]

In retrospect, I’m happy with Holtz. At the time I was really hoping Drysdale fell to NJ (mostly because he was seen as the best right shot defender) and now, while he’s an excellent prospect, I’m just not sure NJ needs another small offensively biased defender. Quinn had a tremendous season but Holtz is far from disappointing. Holtz fits a strong need for NJ so it’s hard to criticize NJ for selecting him. Now, I am disappointed NJ has gone out of its way to make a few pointless selections the past couple of drafts as if they are purposely avoiding right shot defenders. They should have been loading up on them in rounds four and lower and hoping one or two develop. Hard to see Vilen or Edwards doing much for NJ as lefties.

Edit - I know you meant Sanderson and yes he’d be a great prospect but with Luke Hughes on the way missing on him doesn’t sting me as much.

Of course I was talking about Sanderson. Anyway Drysdale drafting could help in negotiations with Severson. And yeah I was “Quinn” guy in situation where I did predict, but I’m ok with Holtz. He is good. Much better than I did worry about. After time I like Jarvis play more, ofcourse Lundel’s play, but Holtz and his shot and playmaking is intriguing me a lot. And I like it.

 

[StevenToddIves]

4/24 Optimist's Mini-Mock:

1 ARI Wright
2 MTL Slafkovsky
3 SEA Cooley
4 PHI Jiricek
5 NJ Nemec
6 CLB Geekie
7 OTT Gauthier
8 DET Nazar
9 BUF Lambert
10 ANH Kemell
11 SJ Savoie
12 CLB McGroarty
13 NYI Chesley
14 WPG Kasper
15 VAN Luneau
16 BUF Yurov
17 DAL Lekkerimaki
18 NSH Gaucher
19 LA Mintyukov
20 EDM Ohgren
...
37 NJ Perevalov
...
69 NJ Schaefer

Just trying to cheer myself up. Remember, all these things are possible.

 

[longislanddevil]

With the surprise Flyers upset over the Penguins, things are extremely interesting now. Devils are one point ahead and each team has three games left.

NJ: at Ottawa, at Carolina, Detroit
Philly: Chicago, Ottawa at Winnipeg

What to root for tomorrow night in the Flyers/Blackhawks game? It’s razor thin close between all three. Still an outside chance that Seattle passes us.

 

[My3Sons]

With the surprise Flyers upset over the Penguins, things are extremely interesting now. Devils are one point ahead and each team has three games left.

NJ: at Ottawa, at Carolina, Detroit
Philly: Chicago, Ottawa at Winnipeg

What to root for tomorrow night in the Flyers/Blackhawks game? It’s razor thin close between all three. Still an outside chance that Seattle passes us.

I guess you cheer for OT?

 

[Guttersniped]

Do you want to bet on this? I will bet my life savings that at least one of them wins one more game.

You could have made a lot of money if your life savings on the Flyers today. (Not that I would recommend betting your life savings on NHL games…)

 

[longislanddevil]

I guess you cheer for OT?

Maybe a Flyers win and a 3 point game?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

You could have made a lot of money if your life savings on the Flyers today. (Not that I would recommend betting your life savings on NHL games…)

Lol I was just saying that because I would be guaranteed to win considering Philly and Chicago play eachother tomorrow.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Big win for Philly today. Things are very tight going into the final few games.

27. Chicago 63 (3 games)
28. New Jersey 62 (3 games)
29. Philadelphia 61 (3 games)
30. Seattle 58 (4 games)

Chicago and Philly play tomorrow which is great for us because that means that either Philly is gonna pass us and/or Chicago is gonna create some distance.
We could still finish in 3rd late if we don’t collect much more in terms of points and Seattle finishes strong.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Kraken's schedule is probably not soft enough for them to pass us, unfortunately.

Philly probably like 40% to do so.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Kraken's schedule is probably not soft enough for them to pass us, unfortunately.

Philly probably like 40% to do so.

That’s really not how the NHL works though. Anyone can beat anyone on any night. Obviously a bad team is less likely to beat a really good one but it still happens all the time. Plus none of the teams they play are that good.
VAN, LAK, SJS, and WPG are all winnable games. 1 fringe playoff team. Obviously we’re 4 points ahead so it’s still unlikely. But possible.
Also should add that they have the tiebreaker so they just need to tie us. And they have a game in hand.