Prospect Info: Devils Picking 4th Overall, Part II

[PKs Broken Stick]

Not sure how much his size will be a part of his game at the NHL level, but his hands look incredible when he has/gets the puck in tight around goal. I think it's super unlikely we draft him given all the other possibilities and our needs, but when you watch some of his highlights you can picture him as a guy whose head and hands could actually keep up with or finish some of the plays that Hughes makes.

I can't see how Anaheim doesn't pick him tbh. I think we will have choice of clarke or hughes.

1. Power
2. Beniers
3. Guenther

 

[Team Concept]

All he said was 'a bigger forward with production and skill to match it', which is exactly what Zacha was on draft day

I wasnt comparing them though

Zacha wasn't that on draft day. He wasn't even averaging 1 pt. per game which was a huge red flag for me.

37-16-18-34 and then 5-2-1-3 in the playoffs.

Looking at Dylan Guenther he averaged 2 pts. per game although it was a smaller sample size.

12-12-12-24

 

[New Jersey Devils]

My final mock:

1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power
2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers
3. Anaheim Ducks- William Eklund
4. New Jersey Devils- Luke Hughes
5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Dylan Guenther
6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt
7. San Jose Sharks- Simon Edvinsson
8. Los Angeles Kings- Brandt Clarke
9. Vancouver Canucks- Mason McTavish
10. Ottawa Senators- Kent Johnson

 

[Forge]

My final mock:

1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power
2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers
3. Anaheim Ducks- William Eklund
4. New Jersey Devils- Luke Hughes
5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Dylan Guenther
6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt
7. San Jose Sharks- Simon Edvinsson
8. Los Angeles Kings- Brandt Clarke
9. Vancouver Canucks- Mason McTavish
10. Ottawa Senators- Kent Johnson

Last year I really wanted the Vancouver pick to get pushed because I thought there was a chance they would crater. Would have really liked to have that second pick in this top ten.

Amazing how badly those play in rounds ultimately ended up going. We could have had back to back years with multiple top ten picks

 

[Brodeur]

My final mock:

1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power
2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers
3. Anaheim Ducks- William Eklund
4. New Jersey Devils- Luke Hughes
5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Dylan Guenther
6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt
7. San Jose Sharks- Simon Edvinsson
8. Los Angeles Kings- Brandt Clarke
9. Vancouver Canucks- Mason McTavish
10. Ottawa Senators- Kent Johnson

Guenther to Columbus might be the one I'd disagree with. I know teams usually try to ignore their current depth chart, but Columbus has a ton of RW (Laine/Atkinson/Bjorkstrand) and took another winger last year with their top pick. With Seth Jones likely gone and Zach Werenski staring down free agency a year from now, I could see them taking a D.

 

[Hisch13r]

Im not sure how I feel about drafting a 3rd line center fourth overall

Nico and Jack aren’t Crosby and Malkin but drafting 3 stud centers is a large reason the Pens went to the finals in 08 and won in 09. You shouldn’t be looking at it as a typical 1-2-3. Staal for example played over 18 in 08 and nearly 20 in 09. You’d be playing all 3 of them a ton.

 

[Nico Hughes]

Nico and Jack aren’t Crosby and Malkin but drafting 3 stud centers is a large reason the Pens went to the finals in 08 and won in 09. You shouldn’t be looking at it as a typical 1-2-3. Staal for example played over 18 in 08 and nearly 20 in 09. You’d be playing all 3 of them a ton.

Wasnt that because both those years they were missing one or the other (Croaby and Malkin) for an extended amount of time?

if a game is 60 minutes then its practically impossible to play three centers 18+ mins each, no team is realistically winning a cup idt playing their 4C less than six minutes a game.

not to mention, thats without a lopsided game in PK or PP. if Nico plays 22 and Jack 20, is Beniers now only playing 16?

I get its not 1-2-3 but I also think its a bit outlandish to suggest you can play three centers equivalent time. Not to mention youre doing Beniers a disservice playing him with third line wingers (lets not pretend wed have six top-6 wingers, not even Tampa had that)

 

[Nico Hughes]

I can get having a 2nd line center play 3C to spread out the wealth (Kadri in Toronto, as an example, scored 50 at 3C).

but drafting a 1st line center prospect at fourth overall and then plugging him into your future contending third line (whether its third line minutes or not) would have to look really weird to management.

at That point id have to imagine, if they like Beniers enough and took him, youd look to converting him to a defensive winger next to Jack

 

[Ripshot 43]

Nico and Jack aren’t Crosby and Malkin but drafting 3 stud centers is a large reason the Pens went to the finals in 08 and won in 09. You shouldn’t be looking at it as a typical 1-2-3. Staal for example played over 18 in 08 and nearly 20 in 09. You’d be playing all 3 of them a ton.

Poor Mikey McCloen would only get 4 minutes a night.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I can get having a 2nd line center play 3C to spread out the wealth (Kadri in Toronto, as an example, scored 50 at 3C).

but drafting a 1st line center prospect at fourth overall and then plugging him into your future contending third line (whether its third line minutes or not) would have to look really weird to management.

at That point id have to imagine, if they like Beniers enough and took him, youd look to converting him to a defensive winger next to Jack

Center scarcity is getting to the point where basically a 3rd line center is equal to a 1st line winger, I'd think it's worth more than a 2nd line winger at this point. Having Beniers as a 3C or supplanting Hischier and moving him to 3C would be intriguing. I remember Penguins had Jordan Staal behind Crosby / Malkin at 3C for a while until they moved him so there's also the "maximize your trade chips" angle to consider.

The team is just so desperate for D prospects I'm not a huge fan of the strategy but building from the middle out for sure I am down with.

 

[Forge]

In a vacuum I would have no problems whatsoever taking a center event with Nico and Jack. Obviously here we will have a crack at defense so I'm probably going that route

 

[My3Sons]

My best guess is that Power goes first, Beniers goes second, and Hughes third. I have no idea of what NJ will do at that point. Something tells me the story about NJ considering a young defender in a trade for pick four was leaked by NJ in the event they aren't happy with the choices at four.

 

[TZdevils]

Wasnt that because both those years they were missing one or the other (Croaby and Malkin) for an extended amount of time?

if a game is 60 minutes then its practically impossible to play three centers 18+ mins each, no team is realistically winning a cup idt playing their 4C less than six minutes a game.

not to mention, thats without a lopsided game in PK or PP. if Nico plays 22 and Jack 20, is Beniers now only playing 16?

I get its not 1-2-3 but I also think its a bit outlandish to suggest you can play three centers equivalent time. Not to mention youre doing Beniers a disservice playing him with third line wingers (lets not pretend wed have six top-6 wingers, not even Tampa had that)

You do realize that beniers can play PP with one of jack or nico which will count for minutes played. Your talking like the whole game is 5 on 5. If the top 3 d are gone, you run to the podium and take beniers. Teams win cups with players like that!

 

[Hisch13r]

Wasnt that because both those years they were missing one or the other (Croaby and Malkin) for an extended amount of time?

if a game is 60 minutes then its practically impossible to play three centers 18+ mins each, no team is realistically winning a cup idt playing their 4C less than six minutes a game.

not to mention, thats without a lopsided game in PK or PP. if Nico plays 22 and Jack 20, is Beniers now only playing 16?

I get its not 1-2-3 but I also think its a bit outlandish to suggest you can play three centers equivalent time. Not to mention youre doing Beniers a disservice playing him with third line wingers (lets not pretend wed have six top-6 wingers, not even Tampa had that)

Pittsburgh literally did it lol. They lost in the finals in 08 with Malkin at 20:48, Crosby at 20:42, and Staal at 18:16 throughout the playoffs. They won in 09 with Malkin at 20:57, Crosby at 20:49 and Staal at 19:13 throughout the playoffs.

 

[Nico Hughes]

You do realize that beniers can play PP with one of jack or nico which will count for minutes played. Your talking like the whole game is 5 on 5. If the top 3 d are gone, you run to the podium and take beniers. Teams win cups with players like that!

I was mever arguing against Beniers, for the record. I like him a lot (though I am concerned with his offensive potential as an 'elite' center prospect. Probably the same way I was with Turcotte in LA)

 

[Forge]

My best guess is that Power goes first, Beniers goes second, and Hughes third. I have no idea of what NJ will do at that point. Something tells me the story about NJ considering a young defender in a trade for pick four was leaked by NJ in the event they aren't happy with the choices at four.

I still think it's extremely likely we end up with Hughes, but if it does happen to run out like that, think I'm going Eklund. I wouldn't hate it if we took Clarke; I'd certainly understand it

 

[My3Sons]

I still think it's extremely likely we end up with Hughes, but if it does happen to run out like that, think I'm going Eklund. I wouldn't hate it if we took Clarke; I'd certainly understand it

Not that I have done much scouting in this years kids but to me Power Berniers and Hughes seem like the three safest picks that offer some upside. Past them you start getting some questions or flaws with each prospect. Maybe Eklund at four makes sense since the only criticism I seem to recall reading about him is he’s not an elite skater and not a big shot? Even then does NJ need a guy redundant of what they already have? I just think this season teams will be conservative and go with the safest player since it’s a bit more of a dice roll than most years.

 

[Hisch13r]

Not that I have done much scouting in this years kids but to me Power Berniers and Hughes seem like the three safest picks that offer some upside. Past them you start getting some questions or flaws with each prospect. Maybe Eklund at four makes sense since the only criticism I seem to recall reading about him is he’s not an elite skater and not a big shot? Even then does NJ need a guy redundant of what they already have? I just think this season teams will be conservative and go with the safest player since it’s a bit more of a dice roll than most years.

I’d have Eklund as the safe one over Power

 

[Forge]

Not that I have done much scouting in this years kids but to me Power Berniers and Hughes seem like the three safest picks that offer some upside. Past them you start getting some questions or flaws with each prospect. Maybe Eklund at four makes sense since the only criticism I seem to recall reading about him is he’s not an elite skater and not a big shot? Even then does NJ need a guy redundant of what they already have? I just think this season teams will be conservative and go with the safest player since it’s a bit more of a dice roll than most years.

I find eklund to be extremely safe which is very nice in this class. I'm not super impressed with his skating burst, but I think the rest of his game on skates is good. He can push through poke checks, has top notch understanding of his ice, very good control. Very smart and crafty skater in my opinion.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The Ducks could take Hughes, but I see no reason to believe they are likely to take Hughes.

 

[RSeen]

I wouldn't hate if we took Eklund. I think we are going D, but he very well could be the best player out of this draft.

 

[Devils Army]

Last year I really wanted the Vancouver pick to get pushed because I thought there was a chance they would crater. Would have really liked to have that second pick in this top ten.

Amazing how badly those play in rounds ultimately ended up going. We could have had back to back years with multiple top ten picks

Luke Hughes and if Guenther fell to 9. Or Kent Johnson or even a goalie. Hell even Simon Edvinsson I'd have been good with. That Vancouver pick would have been f***ing awesome.

 

[StevenToddIves]

My final mock:

1. Buffalo Sabres- Owen Power
2. Seattle Kraken- Matthew Beniers
3. Anaheim Ducks- William Eklund
4. New Jersey Devils- Luke Hughes
5. Columbus Blue Jackets- Dylan Guenther
6. Detroit Red Wings- Jesper Wallstedt
7. San Jose Sharks- Simon Edvinsson
8. Los Angeles Kings- Brandt Clarke
9. Vancouver Canucks- Mason McTavish
10. Ottawa Senators- Kent Johnson

Nice job. My one note is that Anaheim does not draft 5'10-170 forwards early in drafts, it doesn't really matter who they are. This team uses size at the very top of their draft day checklist.

 

[Lou is God]

The Ducks could take Hughes, but I see no reason to believe they are likely to take Hughes.

My hunch is they go either Guenther or Eklund, I know @StevenToddIves has mentioned that the Ducks historically don't draft big this early in a draft but I think they might buckle that trend with Eklund, as far as Guenther, he would be such a natural fit with Zegras.

EDIT: Lol Steve, I had no idea you just posted, good timing

 

[Lou is God]

Fantastic article about Eklund, if the Ducks take Hughes I'm starting to move from Clarke to Eklund:

'I'm going to go No. 1' — William Eklund's drive to achieve his NHL dream boosted by his off-ice teammates

This kid is going to be a special player.