Prospect Info: Devils Picking 4th Overall, Part II

[Forge]

To be honest, I don't think McTavish lasts until #4, so I don't feel it's an issue for Devils fans. I don't see Anaheim passing up on a potential two-way, old school, top-line power center. It's what they love and now sorely lack now that Getzlaf is in his twilight.

If he makes it to six, I think he'd be such a good fit with Lucas Raymond on the Wings. Don't know if they would take him, but I really think that could be a dominant combo.

 

[Forge]

Seattle should take Eklund. I get that there may be a lack of appetite on spending #2 overall on a guy that has a good chance to be a winger, but they should do it anyway.

 

[NA Hockey]

I think Perfetti goes above Mercer / Holtz / Askarov if we are using this year's performance as well. He was nearly a PPG player in the AHL in his draft +1 year; that's an arrow pointing straight up in that regard. I don't know how he gets drafted before Mercer in the actual draft, has a more impressive draft +1 season (what he did in the AHL is more impressive than Mercer in the Q) and falls below him in the draft.

I like your bump on Lundell though.

There is no way in re draft that Jarvis or Holloway are drafted ahead of Perfetti either. I have said this before, but it is amazing the bump Jarvis got from a hot 3 week period. 11 points in 9 AHL game is great but he went back to the WHL and was barely a PPG player . He played the full 24 game schedule finishing 28th in league scoring and was 3rd on his own team, decent but nothing to say he should be drafted higher, in fact the production would indicate a drop in re draft.

I agree on Lundell, he was the player form outside the top 10 that has played his way into the top 6-7

 

[StevenToddIves]

Seattle should take Eklund. I get that there may be a lack of appetite on spending #2 overall on a guy that has a good chance to be a winger, but they should do it anyway.

You take Beniers if you're Seattle. You're talking about two high-character, highly motivated kids who have similar offensive potential -- but Beniers is bigger, faster, better defensively and more likely to stay at center. To me, it's a slam dunk.

 

[Forge]

You take Beniers if you're Seattle. You're talking about two high-character, highly motivated kids who have similar offensive potential -- but Beniers is bigger, faster, better defensively and more likely to stay at center. To me, it's a slam dunk.

Eklund is the better player offensively in my opinion. I think offensively, he's got the bigger upside potential. I think I just value that more at this point of the draft. I agree that Beniers has a better chance at sticking at center, but the size doesn't bother me so much if Eklund is on the wing.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Seattle simply needs to get either McTavish or Beniers from this draft. Their centers project to be atrocious based on what's leaked so far.

 

[Forge]

Seattle simply needs to get either McTavish or Beniers from this draft. Their centers project to be atrocious based on what's leaked so far.

I'm expecting a move or two in terms of trades. Their offense in general is just bad based on the selections. Eberle is probably the best offensive player they have at this point (if the reports are true)

 

[Devils Army]

Seattle's center depth is bad. But just thinking business/marketing wise taking Luke Hughes would make sense if they aren't trying to compete these next 2 years to take advantage of good draft classes coming up. Luke vs Quinn, Seattle vs Vancouver would create an instant rivalry/cool story. Seems like consensus is that they take Beniers. Just speculating on nothing lol.

 

[Buck Dancer]

Seattle should take Eklund. I get that there may be a lack of appetite on spending #2 overall on a guy that has a good chance to be a winger, but they should do it anyway.

I want Eklund, so no, Seattle shouldn’t consider what you’re saying lol

I’m now comfortable saying that not picking Eklund, if he’s on the board, will be an error when looking back at this draft 3 or 4 years from now.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Eklund is the better player offensively in my opinion. I think offensively, he's got the bigger upside potential. I think I just value that more at this point of the draft. I agree that Beniers has a better chance at sticking at center, but the size doesn't bother me so much if Eklund is on the wing.

Genuinely curious -- not disputing here -- what makes you think Eklund would have more offensive upside than Beniers.

 

[Lou is God]

I want Eklund, so no, Seattle shouldn’t consider what you’re saying lol

I’m now comfortable saying that not picking Eklund, if he’s on the board, will be an error when looking back at this draft 3 or 4 years from now.

If Luke Hughes is Scotty Niedermayer 2.0 - not really. And I love Eklund as well, he would be my choice is Luke is gone but Luke's ceiling is sky high.

 

[My3Sons]

Seattle's center depth is bad. But just thinking business/marketing wise taking Luke Hughes would make sense if they aren't trying to compete these next 2 years to take advantage of good draft classes coming up. Luke vs Quinn, Seattle vs Vancouver would create an instant rivalry/cool story. Seems like consensus is that they take Beniers. Just speculating on nothing lol.

What marketing boost do they get if Hughes spends two years at Michigan? By the time Luke gets to SEA the rivalry will be very well established and by the time Luke hits the NHL who knows how he will jump out of the gate? A gradual break in by Luke will probably mute any value for a brother rivalry. SEA and VAN are close enough that the rivalry will be organic as I see it. If SEA picks Luke I think it's because they like him as a player and they like his potential. I'm skeptical they pick him ahead of some other player they prefer because of a vague marketing notion that may never materialize.

 

[Forge]

Genuinely curious -- not disputing here -- what makes you think Eklund would have more offensive upside than Beniers.

I think he sees the ice and has the best understanding of where he should be and when he should be there offensively in this class. But more than that, I think he also knows when and where the others and where they are going to be. Also always primed to pounce...I don't think he floats at all, which is nice. Obviously, they both have the traits to be good offensively, but I think Eklund is slightly more active and in the end I think he is going to be a comparable goal scorer but a better assist man. Between his on ice vision and understanding with the puck, his ability to carry in, and his ability to generate space where there is none, I really like the way his game is going to transition. I know that he does not have a crazy burst / acceleration on the skating, but i love his feet. Just so good at finding and creating space.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I think he sees the ice and has the best understanding of where he should be and when he should be there offensively in this class. But more than that, I think he also knows when and where the others and where they are going to be. Also always primed to pounce...I don't think he floats at all, which is nice. Obviously, they both have the traits to be good offensively, but I think Eklund is slightly more active and in the end I think he is going to be a comparable goal scorer but a better assist man. Between his on ice vision and understanding with the puck, his ability to carry in, and his ability to generate space where there is none, I really like the way his game is going to transition. I know that he does not have a crazy burst / acceleration on the skating, but i love his feet. Just so good at finding and creating space.

I agree with everything you're saying about Eklund -- I feel he has the best hockey IQ in the draft. My counterpoint is that Beniers -- though I'd rank his awareness and vision perhaps a tick below Eklund -- also has raw ability to power through defenders or blow past them which Eklund does not. In the NHL game, I feel these physical traits cannot be understated, especially when combined with Beniers' simply ridiculous compete level -- there are shifts where he seems like he's everywhere on the ice at once.

Neither one of these players are, to me, a Hughes or Lafreniere-type with 100+ point upside. But I can see them both being around point-per-game stars who excel in every aspect of the game. I don't think anyone who truly appreciates hockey can watch either of these terrific young talents without just loving how they play the game. But (and we can revisit this in a few years, of course) if I was forced to bet, I'd say the scoring upside is very close, while Beniers is more likely to both stay at center and compete for Selke Trophies, so that's the player I would go with. On that note, I also feel great confidence that Beniers will be the pick for Seattle at #2, and I don't give much credence to the rumors that Eklund will be picked in the top 4.

 

[Buck Dancer]

If Luke Hughes is Scotty Niedermayer 2.0 - not really. And I love Eklund as well, he would be my choice is Luke is gone but Luke's ceiling is sky high.

I’m just not sold on Luke, unfortunately. Personally, I’d pick Eklund and Clarke over Hughes.

He does have a very high upside and the fact that he’s almost a full calendar year younger then everyone else is impressive but there’s just something that I can’t really pinpoint that has me saying to myself "man, I don’t know".

I wouldn’t be mad if he’s our pick but I have 2 guys I’d prefer over him.

 

[Devils Army]

What marketing boost do they get if Hughes spends two years at Michigan? By the time Luke gets to SEA the rivalry will be very well established and by the time Luke hits the NHL who knows how he will jump out of the gate? A gradual break in by Luke will probably mute any value for a brother rivalry. SEA and VAN are close enough that the rivalry will be organic as I see it. If SEA picks Luke I think it's because they like him as a player and they like his potential. I'm skeptical they pick him ahead of some other player they prefer because of a vague marketing notion that may never materialize.

Luke spends a year/2 at Michigan, Seattle takes Wright/Michkov/Bedard. Lots of hype coming into that if Seattle isn't looking to go the Vegas route. Not saying its the right idea just tossing some stuff at the wall.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m just not sold on Luke, unfortunately. Personally, I’d pick Eklund and Clarke over Hughes.

He does have a very high upside and the fact that he’s almost a full calendar year younger then everyone else is impressive but there’s just something that I can’t really pinpoint that has me saying to myself "man, I don’t know".

I wouldn’t be mad if he’s our pick but I have 2 guys I’d prefer over him.

I've said a ton -- on multiple threads -- that Clarke would be my pick for the Devils at #4 overall. Out of every defender in the 2021 class, Clarke has the best hands and the best passing vision, and there's not a close second. He's also possessing one of the best shots, and he's really improved defensively to the point where I'd say he's pretty good. He's elusive, extremely smart and competitive. Heck of a player.

But Hughes is still who I feel the Devils will pick, and I'm fine with it too. Luke's combination of speed/size/skill is undeniable, giving him just stratospheric upside. But he's also still pretty prone to turnovers, below average defensively and coming off a major injury. Conversely, we need to temper this with the fact that he's one of the youngest players in the entire draft, I think if he were a few days younger he'd be eligible for the 2022 draft. Luke Hughes is a huge talent with a ton of room to grow.

Eklund is a very safe pick -- he might lack the upside of a superstar scorer, but he's a high-IQ high-compete kid who checks every skill in the tool kit except size, which his high compete level more than makes up for. But I'm just not sure that the Devils -- especially needing defense more than forwards -- can pass up on the huge upside of a Clarke or Hughes for a more conservative pick like Eklund. I feel they will shoot for the moon with a potential franchise-caliber defenseman, and with Power certainly gone that pick comes down to Hughes vs. Clarke.

Again, I feel the Devils will take Hughes, and even though I'm a bit higher on Clarke, I understand the rationale and am fine with it.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Seattle is a prime candidate for a trade down too. Something like Columbus's 5th overall and 25th overall wouldn't be enough in most drafts but maybe in this draft they do it if they prefer McTavish to Beniers. Or maybe they just want to add as much young talent as possible and are comfortable trading down.

 

[JimEIV]

I've said a ton -- on multiple threads -- that Clarke would be my pick for the Devils at #4 overall. Out of every defender in the 2021 class, Clarke has the best hands and the best passing vision, and there's not a close second. He's also possessing one of the best shots, and he's really improved defensively to the point where I'd say he's pretty good. He's elusive, extremely smart and competitive. Heck of a player.

But Hughes is still who I feel the Devils will pick, and I'm fine with it too. Luke's combination of speed/size/skill is undeniable, giving him just stratospheric upside. But he's also still pretty prone to turnovers, below average defensively and coming off a major injury. Conversely, we need to temper this with the fact that he's one of the youngest players in the entire draft, I think if he were a few days younger he'd be eligible for the 2022 draft. Luke Hughes is a huge talent with a ton of room to grow.

Eklund is a very safe pick -- he might lack the upside of a superstar scorer, but he's a high-IQ high-compete kid who checks every skill in the tool kit except size, which his high compete level more than makes up for. But I'm just not sure that the Devils -- especially needing defense more than forwards -- can pass up on the huge upside of a Clarke or Hughes for a more conservative pick like Eklund. I feel they will shoot for the moon with a potential franchise-caliber defenseman, and with Power certainly gone that pick comes down to Hughes vs. Clarke.

Again, I feel the Devils will take Hughes, and even though I'm a bit higher on Clarke, I understand the rationale and am fine with it.

How much of Hughes deficiencies can you attribute to being one of the youngest players in this draft in your opinion. That is to say are people seeing a player slightly behind in the development curve compared to the rest of his class or are these real problems?

 

[Devils Army]

If hypothetically Buffalo took Eklund or Beniers 1oa would you guys give Seattle #4 and NYI 1st to trade up for Power?

 

[AfroThunder396]

How much of Hughes deficiencies can you attribute to being one of the youngest players in this draft in your opinion. That is to say are people seeing a player slightly behind in the development curve compared to the rest of his class or are these real problems?

This is where my head is at. Luke Hughes is 10 months younger than Owen Power and 7 months younger than Brandt Clarke and Simon Edvinsson. When you're 25 that difference doesn't matter but at 17-18 it's kind of huge.

That Hughes is ranked so highly compared to peers that are really not his peers is very impressive to me.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

If hypothetically Buffalo took Eklund or Beniers 1oa would you guys give Seattle #4 and NYI 1st to trade up for Power?

Not a chance.

 

[Buck Dancer]

I've said a ton -- on multiple threads -- that Clarke would be my pick for the Devils at #4 overall. Out of every defender in the 2021 class, Clarke has the best hands and the best passing vision, and there's not a close second. He's also possessing one of the best shots, and he's really improved defensively to the point where I'd say he's pretty good. He's elusive, extremely smart and competitive. Heck of a player.

But Hughes is still who I feel the Devils will pick, and I'm fine with it too. Luke's combination of speed/size/skill is undeniable, giving him just stratospheric upside. But he's also still pretty prone to turnovers, below average defensively and coming off a major injury. Conversely, we need to temper this with the fact that he's one of the youngest players in the entire draft, I think if he were a few days younger he'd be eligible for the 2022 draft. Luke Hughes is a huge talent with a ton of room to grow.

Eklund is a very safe pick -- he might lack the upside of a superstar scorer, but he's a high-IQ high-compete kid who checks every skill in the tool kit except size, which his high compete level more than makes up for. But I'm just not sure that the Devils -- especially needing defense more than forwards -- can pass up on the huge upside of a Clarke or Hughes for a more conservative pick like Eklund. I feel they will shoot for the moon with a potential franchise-caliber defenseman, and with Power certainly gone that pick comes down to Hughes vs. Clarke.

Again, I feel the Devils will take Hughes, and even though I'm a bit higher on Clarke, I understand the rationale and am fine with it.

Thanks for the awesome response!

I love potential and I love big smooth skating offensive minded dman, so Luke wouldn’t be too bad of a pick if ever we do take him.

From what I saw, which isn’t anywhere close to the viewings you had of him, is that he tries to do a little too much on his own and is prone to turning the puck over… a lot. I think that he gets away with it 95% of the time because he’s such a great skater and can get back in the play with his long reach, when playing against 17 year olds. On the flip side, if he does that in the pros, he’ll get eaten alive by guys that can keep up and see him coming from a mile away.

The good thing is that time is on his side and he’ll be able to work on that for the next couple of years at Michigan.

 

[JimEIV]

This is where my head is at. Luke Hughes is 10 months younger than Owen Power and 7 months younger than Brandt Clarke and Simon Edvinsson. When you're 25 that difference doesn't matter but at 17-18 it's kind of huge.

That Hughes is ranked so highly compared to peers that are really not his peers is very impressive to me.

I agree. I think it's significant also...Not only that, my thought is players playing in the USHL tend to be a little more on the raw/less refined side to begin with compared to CHL prospects.

So you take one of the youngest draft eligible players and judge him based on his play in the USHL, I think you are going to have a sloppy product no matter what. Especially for a defenseman. Just my thoughts really.

 

[MartyOwns]

But he's also still pretty prone to turnovers, below average defensively and coming off a major injury.

i'd prefer clarke over hughes as well, for the reasons you mentioned. but my fears about his defensive game are assuaged by knowing who we have in the system- several stay at home types that could cover up any of hughes' shortcomings. of course, those guys all play the left side, so that's a bit worrisome.

honestly i hope hughes is picked 2nd or 3rd so we can remove him from the equation altogether. but whoever we pick (as long as it's a defenseman) i'll be very happy. right now, i'm:

1) clarke
2) edvinsson
3) hughes
4) f***