I will stand by my belief that the Devils and Islanders have the two best defensive prospects amongst the NHL. Five or six of them could easily make the NHL in the next year or two. At least four of them are likely to play top-four minutes. But that alone can carry them so far. Outside of Boucher and Matteau, who are both likely to have NHL jobs, the rest of the forwards are unknowns until they prove themselves at the pros. New Jersey might have the best two steals in Miles Wood and Myles Bell from last summer, but they both have to back up their recent play (Wood in college and Bell if he signs in the AHL). Personally, I believe Blake Coleman took that next step and wll be in the pros. There has also been a severe lack of talented forwards for quite some time. This is why Detroit has made the playoffs every year. They have the best scouting team in hockey that can find talent in all the nooks and crannies wherever they are positioned. That lack of talent up front is what will keep the Devils system in the bottom tier.
On a side note, I do not like how they have handled the right wing position. The past few years they have addressed it through free agency or shifting others to the right. It has worked, but for how much longer since most of the current ones are our veterans (Jagr, Ryder, Zubrus can play all three, Bernier). I hope to see two natural right wingers taken in this upcoming draft.
