www.todaysslapshot.com Devils draft preview

[StevenToddIves]

Devils fans, this one's for you!

http://www.todaysslapshot.com/nhl-prospects-2/nhl-draft-2015-new-jersey-devils-preview/

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...

Click to read more...

 

[Devils Trap]

Agree 100%

Barzal is far and way the best prospect to be there at #6 and it isnt close

 

[MichaelJ]

Agree 100%

Barzal is far and way the best prospect to be there at #6 and it isnt close

Nonsense...this is purely opinion.

 

[thethinglonger]

Barzal and Guryanov with our first two picks? Yes please. That would do wonders to our forward prospect pool.

On another note, no way should we trade for Draisaitl. I'd love to have him but he just won the Memorial Cup MVP award after winning the WHL Playoffs MVP award. He won't be coming cheap and I wouldn't want to part with whatever the cost may be for him.

 

[Devils Trap]

Nonsense...this is purely opinion.

An opinion shared by 95% of the hockey world

Only guy I would take over Barzal is Strome/Marner but they will be gone. Other then that maybe Rantanen , no one else even enters the discussion (from forwards)

 

[R8Devs]

I can see Barzal as the 6th best prospect in the draft but "not even close" is an unneeded distinction and probably not true with the likes of Provorov.

 

[devilsblood]

Watching that shift by shift video on Barzal, there is a play Barzal walks in towards the goal and has a clear shooting lane from about 5-10 feet out. He doesn't shoot, and instead goes past the net and tries to force a pass into a scrum right in front of the net.

The announcer laments that Seattle is over passing yet again. On this particular play they are speaking directly of Barzal.

Now he clearly is a pass first player, and seems to be pretty darn good at it. But Seattle is a team that lacks goal scoring. I find that to be a point of concern when evaluating Barzal.

 

[devilsblood]

Devils fans, this one's for you!

http://www.todaysslapshot.com/nhl-prospects-2/nhl-draft-2015-new-jersey-devils-preview/

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...

Really enjoyed that article. Pretty much nailed the current state of the Devils, and that gave some credence to the strong opinions expressed as to who the Devils should a)draft at 6, and b)possibly trading up with that first pick in the 2nd rnd.

 

[devilsblood]

I also liked the ideas of targeting Draistl or Grigorenko.

 

[Devils Dominion]

It is a good in-depth article that I posted in the draft thread earlier today.

Well-written for sure.

 

[theoptimist]

at #6, barzal would be a mistake.


my 2 cents atleast. nice write up.

 

[MichaelJ]

An opinion shared by 95% of the hockey world

Only guy I would take over Barzal is Strome/Marner but they will be gone. Other then that maybe Rantanen , no one else even enters the discussion (from forwards)

No one in the hockey world thinks he is "far and away better".

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Excellent article.

We will wait until the defense prospects are pushing down the NHL door before trading any away.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Thanks for the kind words, guys! I am optimistic about the Devils' future, I think they have an opportunity to add a couple of terrific offensive pieces in this draft and set themselves up for future success.

 

[Alex NJD]

I just hope we get a 1C out of this draft. A bust here would Really suck

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Great article.

I am bit uneasy about the Draisaitl for Larsson trade suggestion. I really don't want to trade Larsson after his 2nd half of the season. I would however pull the trigger on a Severson for Draisaitl trade though. I think with the state of our current forwards at both NHL and prospect level, we need to take the plunge, knowing it might hurt if Severson turns out well. Draisaitl upside is very good and it is worth the risk.

And the Gelinas package for Grigorenko is a good hockey deal too.

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Great article.

I am bit uneasy about the Draisaitl for Larsson trade suggestion. I really don't want to trade Larsson after his 2nd half of the season. I would however pull the trigger on a Severson for Draisaitl trade though. I think with the state of our current forwards at both NHL and prospect level, we need to take the plunge, knowing it might hurt if Severson turns out well. Draisaitl upside is very good and it is worth the risk.

And the Gelinas package for Grigorenko is a good hockey deal too.

If we draft Provorov maybe we can spare a defenseman a little earlier but it's not like we are full of depth at the moment. A lot is still potential.

 

[tr83]

Great article.

I am bit uneasy about the Draisaitl for Larsson trade suggestion. I really don't want to trade Larsson after his 2nd half of the season. I would however pull the trigger on a Severson for Draisaitl trade though. I think with the state of our current forwards at both NHL and prospect level, we need to take the plunge, knowing it might hurt if Severson turns out well. Draisaitl upside is very good and it is worth the risk.

And the Gelinas package for Grigorenko is a good hockey deal too.

I second this. Maybe Merrill in place of Severson and a pick if it can be got. The package for Grigorenko is fascinating.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Great article.

I think there was universal praise for it on some other threads.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I second this. Maybe Merrill in place of Severson and a pick if it can be got. The package for Grigorenko is fascinating.

Think of it like this: you're Buffalo. You have an elite future center trifecta of Eichel/Reinhart/Girgensons. Even if you move Zemgus to the wing (he is very good at both -- love that kid), you still don't have an open scoring line role which Grigorenko desperately needs to develop.

Basically, the kid is trade bait for the ancillary parts and/or franchise goaltender the Sabres need. I just think the Devils would be wise to jump on this kid before he is actively shopped in order to get the best possible value.

 

[Devil X]

A great draft week for me would be something along the lines of:

Trade back with Columbus: NJD 6OA to Columbus for 8OA and Rychel

Then either before the draft or during: NJD Gelinas + to Buffalo for Grigorenko.

Goal leave the first day of the draft with 1 of Barzal, Rantanen, or Zacha PLUS Rychel and Grigorenko

 

[Maine Fan]

Very nice article, good read

I also would hate to see Larsson leave.

 

[HBK27]

Really good article.

I almost hate the fact that I'm reading up too much on this draft and getting excited about the prospect of taking Barzal (or Marner if he's gone), as I feel I'm going to be massively disappointed if/when the Devils trade the pick or take someone else like Crouse/Rantanen/Conner.

 

[RSeen]

Agree 100%

Barzal is far and way the best prospect to be there at #6 and it isnt close

How is it not even close? Are you an expert or something? I haven't heard any scout say that, and in most drafts he is ranked lower than 6.

 

[Edmonton East]

How is it not even close? Are you an expert or something? I haven't heard any scout say that, and in most drafts he is ranked lower than 6.

Forward wise, I think Barzal is clearly the best option at #6 as well. And actually there are plenty (I do not mean majority) of scouts that have said Barzal could easily sneak into the top 5. Obviously I'm no expert but of the hours of tape I watched on Zacha and Barzal, I really don't see how those two specifically are close. It's 90% size bias in my eyes, which isn't nearly as important in today's NHL.