Prospect Info: 2020 Devils-Centric Mock Draft 2.0

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Personally, I think both Drysdale and Sanderson are gone by #7. But in the hypothetical I was given, it would be an historic coup to somehow wind up with them both.

I could see it happening without a trade, if Montreal win lottery and Chicago pick Askarov at no. 9.
1. MTL-Lafreniere
2. LA-Byfield
3. OTT-Stutzle
Top 3 I think are largely set.
4. DET-Perfetti
If speculation is true about Detroit wanting Perfetti.
5. OTT-Rossi
IMO Ottawa would be crazy to ignore Rossi given he plays in their backyard.
6. ANA-Raymond
Ducks go forward instead of D.
7. NJ-Drysdale
If draft falls this way, Drysdale is BPA.
8. BUF-Holtz
Goalscoring winger for Eichel
9. CHI-Askarov
10. NJ-Sanderson

If NJ already draft Drysdale, should they really pick another D ahead of a forward like Jack Quinn.

 

[Ripshot 43]

I could see it happening without a trade, if Montreal win lottery and Chicago pick Askarov at no. 9.
1. MTL-Lafreniere
2. LA-Byfield
3. OTT-Stutzle
Top 3 I think are largely set.
4. DET-Perfetti
If speculation is true about Detroit wanting Perfetti.
5. OTT-Rossi
IMO Ottawa would be crazy to ignore Rossi given he plays in their backyard.
6. ANA-Raymond
Ducks go forward instead of D.
7. NJ-Drysdale
If draft falls this way, Drysdale is BPA.
8. BUF-Holtz
Goalscoring winger for Eichel
9. CHI-Askarov
10. NJ-Sanderson

If NJ already draft Drysdale, should they really pick another D ahead of a forward like Jack Quinn.

Yes, take BPA. The 1st pick has no bearing on what we should do with the 2nd pick and even the 3rd.

In this scenario we would come away from this draft with a revamped defensive core that should be ready to play within 2 seasons. I like Quinn a lot but I wouldn’t take him a potential 1st pairing D.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I could see it happening without a trade, if Montreal win lottery and Chicago pick Askarov at no. 9.
1. MTL-Lafreniere
2. LA-Byfield
3. OTT-Stutzle
Top 3 I think are largely set.
4. DET-Perfetti
If speculation is true about Detroit wanting Perfetti.
5. OTT-Rossi
IMO Ottawa would be crazy to ignore Rossi given he plays in their backyard.
6. ANA-Raymond
Ducks go forward instead of D.
7. NJ-Drysdale
If draft falls this way, Drysdale is BPA.
8. BUF-Holtz
Goalscoring winger for Eichel
9. CHI-Askarov
10. NJ-Sanderson

If NJ already draft Drysdale, should they really pick another D ahead of a forward like Jack Quinn.

This is a good mock draft, using logic. But organizational tendency is often more reliable than logic. I say it often, but the last time Anaheim used their first pick in the first round on a player under 6'0 it was 5'11 Kyle Palmieri in 2011. The last time Ottawa did this was 5'11 Patrick Eaves in 2003.

These are the two "oldest school" front offices in the entire NHL, in my opinion. The idea that one of them would break from their scouting preferences and take a small-ish forward is arguable. But both of them? One also needs to consider that Anaheim is desperate to get some D in the organization and the only position where they have any discernible depth whatsoever is left wing (although Raymond could switch over to the right). I'd have to say the odds of Anaheim taking Raymond with Sanderson, Drysdale and Holtz on the board is somewhere between fat chance in hell and when pigs fly.

Then, we would have to assume that Chicago would pass on Sanderson -- who would be unchallenged as the best LD in the organization and is something they too desperately need -- to take a goaltender who likely won't see the NHL until Kane and Toews are both on the other side of 35 years of age.

Like I always say, anything is possible on draft day. And certainly, this scenario is my personal best case scenario to end all best case scenarios. But whew, a lot of weird things would have to happen.

 

[TBF1972]

Perreault also has a superior offensive skill set to Holtz or Quinn or Mercer, so someone is going to take him in the first round. How many teams are kicking themselves for passing on Kaliyev last year? I'm not saying I would draft Perreault, I'm just saying he certainly bears looking into.

Kaliyev hasn't played a single game in the NHL. Much to early to kick yourself for not drafting him. He still has a long way to go. He will face adversity and we will see how he handles it.

 

[TBF1972]

I could see it happening without a trade, if Montreal win lottery and Chicago pick Askarov at no. 9.
1. MTL-Lafreniere
2. LA-Byfield
3. OTT-Stutzle
Top 3 I think are largely set.
4. DET-Perfetti
If speculation is true about Detroit wanting Perfetti.
5. OTT-Rossi
IMO Ottawa would be crazy to ignore Rossi given he plays in their backyard.
6. ANA-Raymond
Ducks go forward instead of D.
7. NJ-Drysdale
If draft falls this way, Drysdale is BPA.
8. BUF-Holtz
Goalscoring winger for Eichel
9. CHI-Askarov
10. NJ-Sanderson

If NJ already draft Drysdale, should they really pick another D ahead of a forward like Jack Quinn.

With this draft order I see a better chance, if NJ picks Sanderson first. Both Chicago and Buffalo have a few young offensive minded RHDs.

 

[R8Devs]

I could see Buffalo taking Lundell if Rossi is drafted by the Devils or a team in front of the Devils. He'll probably be in the NHL sooner rather than later and he could make an impact sooner than some of the other guys who people say have higher potential because they need to take advantage of Eichel as soon as possible.


Either way give me at 7 (assuming Laf, Byfield, and Stutzle are top three):
one of Rossi, Holtz, Raymond, Perfetti, Drysdale

If Arizona doesn't win their play-in and don't win the lottery:
one of the guys from above (Rossi, Holtz, Raymond, Perfetti, Drysdale) if they drop if not one of Sanderson, Lundell, Jarvis

 

[glenwo2]

I could see it happening without a trade, if Montreal win lottery and Chicago pick Askarov at no. 9.
1. MTL-Lafreniere
2. LA-Byfield
3. OTT-Stutzle
Top 3 I think are largely set.
4. DET-Perfetti
If speculation is true about Detroit wanting Perfetti.
5. OTT-Rossi
IMO Ottawa would be crazy to ignore Rossi given he plays in their backyard.
6. ANA-Raymond
Ducks go forward instead of D.
7. NJ-Drysdale
If draft falls this way, Drysdale is BPA.
8. BUF-Holtz
Goalscoring winger for Eichel
9. CHI-Askarov
10. NJ-Sanderson

If NJ already draft Drysdale, should they really pick another D ahead of a forward like Jack Quinn.

The real prize there is Drysdale and I could totally see this scenario of Sanderson ending up on the fringes or just outside the top 10 in the draft.

If the Devils end up being able to Select Sanderson at 10(provided that's the draft pick we end up with via the Yotes), there better not be a forward worth drafting at that pick. I would only be fine with drafting him if he was the BPA at that point.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I could see Buffalo taking Lundell if Rossi is drafted by the Devils or a team in front of the Devils. He'll probably be in the NHL sooner rather than later and he could make an impact sooner than some of the other guys who people say have higher potential because they need to take advantage of Eichel as soon as possible.


Either way give me at 7 (assuming Laf, Byfield, and Stutzle are top three):
one of Rossi, Holtz, Raymond, Perfetti, Drysdale

If Arizona doesn't win their play-in and don't win the lottery:
one of the guys above if they drop if not one of Sanderson, Lundell, Jarvis

I still have a tough time seeing Sanderson dropping to #7, but I can't see any scenario where he drops to #10.

I have an impossible time seeing Buffalo drafting Lundell to be their third-line center at #8 overall -- they need scoring wingers to surround Eichel and Cozens with on the top two lines, and they need them fast. Holtz makes a tremendous amount of sense there.

 

[StevenToddIves]

The real prize there is Drysdale and I could totally see this scenario of Sanderson ending up on the fringes or just outside the top 10 in the draft.

If the Devils end up being able to Select Sanderson at 10(provided that's the draft pick we end up with via the Yotes), there better not be a forward worth drafting at that pick. I would only be fine with drafting him if he was the BPA at that point.

Um, Sanderson is probably going to be the BPA by the #6 or #7 overall pick. Sorry, I had to say it.

 

[R8Devs]

I still have a tough time seeing Sanderson dropping to #7, but I can't see any scenario where he drops to #10.

I have an impossible time seeing Buffalo drafting Lundell to be their third-line center at #8 overall -- they need scoring wingers to surround Eichel and Cozens with on the top two lines, and they need them fast. Holtz makes a tremendous amount of sense there.

I'm not saying it's going to happen for sure but something that makes sense in my mind because of where they are currently as a team and the need to take advantage of Eichel's prime, a guy like Cozens could be moved to wing too. Of course they could just go for the guy who they think has the highest potential too. I also don't think it's far fetched for some teams to have Lundell in the top 10 of their rankings.

As for Sanderson, if he doesn't make it to 7 or if the Devils pass on him at 7 for a forward (Rossi, Holtz, Perfetti, Raymond) or Drysdale I'd be completely fine with that because I really want one of those forwards/Drysdale -- that's my main want of the draft. And if he doesn't make it to Arizona's pick (provided they lose qualifying and don't win the lottery) then I think it'd still be fine because on the chance that all of Rossi, Holtz, Perfetti, Raymond, Drysdale, and Sanderson are gone by that pick then the Devils would still have a shot at Lundell, Jack Quinn, Seth Jarvis and even some other guys who are really nice consolation prizes.

 

[glenwo2]

Um, Sanderson is probably going to be the BPA by the #6 or #7 overall pick. Sorry, I had to say it.

You shouldn't be sorry about saying that, especially to me.