kasper11
Registered User
A look at the HFNHL and prospect depth at each position in the Devils system heading into the 2013 off-season. The Devils currently have 5 picks in the upcoming draft, picking 8th and 25th in the first round, plus picks in the second, fifth and seventh rounds.
Center:
HFNHL: John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf, Tomas Kopecky, Maxim Lapierre
Prospects: Casey Cizikas, Evgeny Kuznetsov
Analysis: The Devils possess one of the best 1-2 punches in the league with Hart trophy candidate John Tavares and Ryan Getzlaf. Although both players signed extensions this past season, it remains to be seen how long the team can go spending almost $13,000,000 on the top two centers. Tomas Kopecky is a solid #3 center, but there are rumors that he could be moved to the #2 lw position next year, leaving a big hole. Casey Cizikas will most likely step in on a 4th line role next year moving Maxim Lapierre to rw. That leaves only one center in the system, although he is a good one. Kuznetsov is widely considered one of the top players in the world outside of the NHL. The big question is whether he will make the jump or play out his career in the KHL. One thing is for certain, the team needs center depth at both the big league and prospect levels.
Wing:
HFNHL: Alexander Semin, PA Parenteau, Tyler Seguin, Tomas Kopecky, Ryan Smyth, Maxim Lapierre
Prospects: Pontus Aberg, Teemu Pulkkinen, Jeremy Morin, Jared Knight, Matt Fraser
Analysis: Once again, the Devils possess high-end talent at the HFNHL level but severely lack depth. Semin and PAP formed one of the top lines in the HFNHL with Tavares last year, while Seguin is a Calder candidate. Tomas Kopecky combines defensive awareness with 25+ goal scoring potential. Maxim Lapierre is a grinder and while Ryan Smyth is overpaid at $4.5M, he projects as a solid 15 goal scoring third liner who is good in his own end and willing to hit and drop the gloves. There are a few interesting names in the prospect ranks. Jeremy Morin and Matt Fraser both scored 30+ goals in the AHL, although it remains to be seen whether that goal-scoring talent will translate to the HFNHL. Pontus Aberg and Teemu Pulkkinen have displayed high-end skill playing in mens’ leagues in Europe. Pulkkinen was also a dominant force in the WJCs two years ago. There is certainly more depth in the system at wing than center, although it isn’t exactly deep.
Defense:
HFNHL: Shea Weber, Mark Streit, Marc-Eduard Vlasic, Travis Hamonic, Nick Leddy, Jared Cowen, Nikita Nikitin, Jack Hillen
Prospects: Radko Gudas, Joe Finley, Andrey Pedan, Brandon Kichton, Simon Fernholm
Analysis: With Radko Gudas ready for a regular bottom-pair spot and Joe Finley looking like a capable backup, the Devils have a wealth of HFNHL ready blueliners. This is by far the deepest position on the team, and is also highly skilled. Shea Weber is one of the best in the game while Mark Streit still possesses elite offensive talent and is still more than capable in his own end. Vlasic doesn’t have much offense, but is a solid shut-down dman. Nikitin is another defensive defenseman, not quite at Vlasic’s level but still a solid second-pair player. Travis Hamonic and Jared Cowen are a pair of big, physical defensemen that are solid players with top-pair potential. Nick Leddy is a solid puck-mover who is still developing. There isn’t much in the system at defense, but there really doesn’t need to be. Weber is expected to be a Devil for life, while Hamonic, Leddy, Cowen and Gudas are all 23 or younger while Vlasic and Nikitin are just 26. The team is very high on Andrey Pedan, although he is far from a sure thing. The system can use more depth, but the team can afford to think long term.
Goalies:
HFNHL: Scott Clemensen
System: Kevin Poulin, Mark Visentin
Analysis: Uh-oh. The first thing that jumps out at you looking at the Devils roster is the lack of a starting goaltender. That could be a big problem for a team looking to compete. Rumor has it the Devils are already working the phones trying to remedy the situation. If a smart deal doesn’t present itself, the team will look at signing a veteran free agent such as Evgeny Nabokov and Mikka Kuprusoff or even bringing back Ilya Bryzgalov. Poulin and Visentin are solid prospects, but goalie prospects are notoriously hard to predict and the team may look to add additional depth.
Overall:
The Devils have high end skill at both the NHL and prospect levels. The key will be adding depth (and a goalie) to the pro team while staying under the salary cap. That may be difficult to do seeing as how the team’s prospect pool is nowhere near as deep as it has been in recent years, meaning the team may need to wade into the always over-priced free agent pool.
Center:
HFNHL: John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf, Tomas Kopecky, Maxim Lapierre
Prospects: Casey Cizikas, Evgeny Kuznetsov
Analysis: The Devils possess one of the best 1-2 punches in the league with Hart trophy candidate John Tavares and Ryan Getzlaf. Although both players signed extensions this past season, it remains to be seen how long the team can go spending almost $13,000,000 on the top two centers. Tomas Kopecky is a solid #3 center, but there are rumors that he could be moved to the #2 lw position next year, leaving a big hole. Casey Cizikas will most likely step in on a 4th line role next year moving Maxim Lapierre to rw. That leaves only one center in the system, although he is a good one. Kuznetsov is widely considered one of the top players in the world outside of the NHL. The big question is whether he will make the jump or play out his career in the KHL. One thing is for certain, the team needs center depth at both the big league and prospect levels.
Wing:
HFNHL: Alexander Semin, PA Parenteau, Tyler Seguin, Tomas Kopecky, Ryan Smyth, Maxim Lapierre
Prospects: Pontus Aberg, Teemu Pulkkinen, Jeremy Morin, Jared Knight, Matt Fraser
Analysis: Once again, the Devils possess high-end talent at the HFNHL level but severely lack depth. Semin and PAP formed one of the top lines in the HFNHL with Tavares last year, while Seguin is a Calder candidate. Tomas Kopecky combines defensive awareness with 25+ goal scoring potential. Maxim Lapierre is a grinder and while Ryan Smyth is overpaid at $4.5M, he projects as a solid 15 goal scoring third liner who is good in his own end and willing to hit and drop the gloves. There are a few interesting names in the prospect ranks. Jeremy Morin and Matt Fraser both scored 30+ goals in the AHL, although it remains to be seen whether that goal-scoring talent will translate to the HFNHL. Pontus Aberg and Teemu Pulkkinen have displayed high-end skill playing in mens’ leagues in Europe. Pulkkinen was also a dominant force in the WJCs two years ago. There is certainly more depth in the system at wing than center, although it isn’t exactly deep.
Defense:
HFNHL: Shea Weber, Mark Streit, Marc-Eduard Vlasic, Travis Hamonic, Nick Leddy, Jared Cowen, Nikita Nikitin, Jack Hillen
Prospects: Radko Gudas, Joe Finley, Andrey Pedan, Brandon Kichton, Simon Fernholm
Analysis: With Radko Gudas ready for a regular bottom-pair spot and Joe Finley looking like a capable backup, the Devils have a wealth of HFNHL ready blueliners. This is by far the deepest position on the team, and is also highly skilled. Shea Weber is one of the best in the game while Mark Streit still possesses elite offensive talent and is still more than capable in his own end. Vlasic doesn’t have much offense, but is a solid shut-down dman. Nikitin is another defensive defenseman, not quite at Vlasic’s level but still a solid second-pair player. Travis Hamonic and Jared Cowen are a pair of big, physical defensemen that are solid players with top-pair potential. Nick Leddy is a solid puck-mover who is still developing. There isn’t much in the system at defense, but there really doesn’t need to be. Weber is expected to be a Devil for life, while Hamonic, Leddy, Cowen and Gudas are all 23 or younger while Vlasic and Nikitin are just 26. The team is very high on Andrey Pedan, although he is far from a sure thing. The system can use more depth, but the team can afford to think long term.
Goalies:
HFNHL: Scott Clemensen
System: Kevin Poulin, Mark Visentin
Analysis: Uh-oh. The first thing that jumps out at you looking at the Devils roster is the lack of a starting goaltender. That could be a big problem for a team looking to compete. Rumor has it the Devils are already working the phones trying to remedy the situation. If a smart deal doesn’t present itself, the team will look at signing a veteran free agent such as Evgeny Nabokov and Mikka Kuprusoff or even bringing back Ilya Bryzgalov. Poulin and Visentin are solid prospects, but goalie prospects are notoriously hard to predict and the team may look to add additional depth.
Overall:
The Devils have high end skill at both the NHL and prospect levels. The key will be adding depth (and a goalie) to the pro team while staying under the salary cap. That may be difficult to do seeing as how the team’s prospect pool is nowhere near as deep as it has been in recent years, meaning the team may need to wade into the always over-priced free agent pool.
