Prospect Info: Devils Centric 2019 Mock Draft 1.01g1

[MichaelJ]

I wouldn't say 4th is the worst spot to pick in, it's just an awkward spot since there is a large percentage of probability that you will move down two spots, then again, you have a 50% chance of picking out of the top three if you're in dead last.

I'll be happy the lower we go. I would like to see at least LA pass us.

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Devils have a reasonable chance of finishing 2nd. No one is catching the Ottawa Avalanche

 

[OmNomNom]

ugh my first sim, the avs got the #1 pick, and the sens pick was 3rd. that'd be annoying

we dropped to 6th

 

[glenwo2]

ugh my first sim, the avs got the #1 pick, and the sens pick was 3rd. that'd be annoying

we dropped to 6th

Good thing for you that sims do not reflect reality.

Otherwise, Nico would've been drafted by another team instead of the Devils.

 

[BurntToast]

I can see the Devils at 2/3 before the lottery. Which means they will pick in the top 10. Top 2 are the cream of the crop but 3-12 is loaded with talent. Other things to consider the best prospects aren’t always the best players. They have a higher probability of making an impact but in many drafts the best players are drafted later. I would take take TY Smith over most of the defenseman taken before him and he migh up being more productive than Dahlin. ( Slightly Biased ).

 

[Nubmer6]

I'd like to pick top 4 with a shot to get cozens or Byram. Otherwise I think picking top 8 guarantees us someone I'm very happy with. If we pick 5 and none of my favorites are there I'd be fine trading down to as low as 8

 

[StevenToddIves]

I'd like to pick top 4 with a shot to get cozens or Byram. Otherwise I think picking top 8 guarantees us someone I'm very happy with. If we pick 5 and none of my favorites are there I'd be fine trading down to as low as 8

If the Devils pick top-4, I am extremely extremely extremely confident they will come away from the draft with one of Byram or Cozens.

If you're keeping score at home, that's three "extremelys".

 

[Nubmer6]

If the Devils pick top-4, I am extremely extremely extremely confident they will come away from the draft with one of Byram or Cozens.

If you're keeping score at home, that's three "extremelys".

I shudder to think how many extremelys a top 2 or 1 pick would warrant

 

[StevenToddIves]

By the way, I'm working on a post-deadline mock for March, but I work a ton this week and need to carve out a few hours to write it up. So hopefully soon.

Incidentally, if the draft were today?

1 COL Hughes
2 DET Kakko
3 LAK Podkolzin
4 NJ Byram
5 ANH Cozens

Anaheim winning last night was a big help to NJ, moving them up to 4th. But what would be an even bigger help would be Detroit moving up to the top 2, because at 3 or 4 they are a big threat to draft Byram.

 

[BurntToast]

I would not take Byram 4. I feel like he is more or less the best of a mediocre group of defenseman. Cozens or Turcotte all day. Turcotte is my favorite prospect after Kaapo. Nothing against Hughes, but he is so small.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I would not take Byram 4. I feel like he is more or less the best of a mediocre group of defenseman. Cozens or Turcotte all day. Turcotte is my favorite prospect after Kaapo. Nothing against Hughes, but he is so small.

Hughes might have the best combination of hands/vision/speed that anyone has ever seen. He is going #1, bank on it, doesn't matter who is drafting.

I agree that Cozens and Turcotte are phenomenal prospects.

I would like to hear an actual aspect of Byram's game that you think would inhibit his ability to be a standout #1 D at the NHL level. The fact that the remainder of the 2019 D class is not at the highest level should have no bearing on him.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Byram literally doesn't have a weakness at all. He has good size, his defense is good (for an offensive d-man his age), his hockey iq and offense is good, his passing is good, he has a good shot, his skating is good, and he doesn't play soft. He's also one of the younger guys in his draft class. He's literally a better ty smith....

I'd like to hear thoughts on why people don't view him that highly either. For the love of god, don't say "the experts say so"

imo hes >>>>>>>> the rest of the d-men and not just the best of a mediocre class of defensemen.

 

[Billdo]

Byram literally doesn't have a weakness at all. He has good size, his defense is good (for an offensive d-man his age), his hockey iq and offense is good, his passing is good, he has a good shot, his skating is good, and he doesn't play soft. He's also one of the younger guys in his draft class. He's literally a better ty smith....

I'd like to hear thoughts on why people don't view him that highly either. For the love of god, don't say "the experts say so"

imo hes >>>>>>>> the rest of the d-men and not just the best of a mediocre class of defensemen.

Yeah, Hughes and Kakko are 1 and 1a. But Byram probably isn't even a 2 in my eyes, he's like a 1B- or something in between. He's got a complete skill set, in baseball he's a 5 tool player. I love everything about his game. If we have the chance to take him I'd be running to the podium.

 

[glenwo2]

Yeah, Hughes and Kakko are 1 and 1a. But Byram probably isn't even a 2 in my eyes, he's like a 1B- or something in between. He's got a complete skill set, in baseball he's a 5 tool player. I love everything about his game. If we have the chance to take him I'd be running to the podium.

If we have the chance to take him, I'd be walking to the podium.

Would be very embarrassing if I pulled a David Clarkson.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Byram literally doesn't have a weakness at all. He has good size, his defense is good (for an offensive d-man his age), his hockey iq and offense is good, his passing is good, he has a good shot, his skating is good, and he doesn't play soft. He's also one of the younger guys in his draft class. He's literally a better ty smith....

I'd like to hear thoughts on why people don't view him that highly either. For the love of god, don't say "the experts say so"

imo hes >>>>>>>> the rest of the d-men and not just the best of a mediocre class of defensemen.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that Byram's greatest strength is that he has no weakness. That being said, he is a very different player than Ty Smith. Smith is competitive as hell, but his game is extremely cerebral. While Byram is also quite intelligent, his game has far more immediacy, especially with his physicality. I think the idea of having two all-star #1 LD would be terrific.

I remember quite well the championship Devils teams under Lou Lamoriello. Many fans would complain about "the trap" being the cause of the Devils' success, but two-thirds of the NHL teams were trapping back then. What made the Devils so successful was a historically strong blueline built around Scott Niedermeyer, Scott Stevens, Brian Rafalski and Ken Daneyko.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I agree with you wholeheartedly that Byram's greatest strength is that he has no weakness. That being said, he is a very different player than Ty Smith. Smith is competitive as hell, but his game is extremely cerebral. While Byram is also quite intelligent, his game has far more immediacy, especially with his physicality. I think the idea of having two all-star #1 LD would be terrific.

I remember quite well the championship Devils teams under Lou Lamoriello. Many fans would complain about "the trap" being the cause of the Devils' success, but two-thirds of the NHL teams were trapping back then. What made the Devils so successful was a historically strong blueline built around Scott Niedermeyer, Scott Stevens, Brian Rafalski and Ken Daneyko.

I didn't mean to imply that byram was similar to ty smith in playstyle. I was using him as a comparison because the weaknesses that smith has, byram doesn't. In addition, people are gushing over ty smith but are overlooking byram so I mentioned smith.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I didn't mean to imply that byram was similar to ty smith in playstyle. I was using him as a comparison because the weaknesses that smith has, byram doesn't. In addition, people are gushing over ty smith but are overlooking byram so I mentioned smith.

I'm really excited to see Ty Smith in camp next year, as I'm certain you are. He's just been such a force for Spokane this year. I think another Devils' prospect who is going to raise some eyebrows next year at LD is Jeremy Davies. I've heard some whispers that the Devils are going to try to sign him after a third consecutive electrifying season at Northeastern University. I think he's very comparable to Will Butcher at the same age, just so heady and productive.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I'm really excited to see Ty Smith in camp next year, as I'm certain you are. He's just been such a force for Spokane this year. I think another Devils' prospect who is going to raise some eyebrows next year at LD is Jeremy Davies. I've heard some whispers that the Devils are going to try to sign him after a third consecutive electrifying season at Northeastern University. I think he's very comparable to Will Butcher at the same age, just so heady and productive.

Yea Ive been mentioning davies here and there since people seem to forget about him haha. I also brought up that greene comparison which didn't go over well.

 

[MadDevil]

Yea Ive been mentioning davies here and there since people seem to forget about him haha. I also brought up that greene comparison which didn't go over well.

Why wouldn't a Greene comparison go over well? In his prime Greene was a pretty damn good defenseman, especially given the quality of the blue line around him.

 

[My3Sons]

Yea Ive been mentioning davies here and there since people seem to forget about him haha. I also brought up that greene comparison which didn't go over well.

It’s easy to forget what Greene was like 7-8 years ago.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Why wouldn't a Greene comparison go over well? In his prime Greene was a pretty damn good defenseman, especially given the quality of the blue line around him.

maybe it was just 1 person, idr tbh but yea seemed being compared to greene was a disappointment.

 

[blink]

Yea Ive been mentioning davies here and there since people seem to forget about him haha. I also brought up that greene comparison which didn't go over well.

Signing Davies should be a priority this year. He has little left to prove in college and would be able to get some great development in Binghamton. Give him good minutes in all situations on the farm.

Really excited for Walsh as well but I feel he will stay at Harvard for another couple seasons.

Guys rave about Turcotte's talent but his injury woes worry me. Talent wise though, he is a top 5 player in this draft. Will be very interesting to see where he goes in 1st round.

 

[My3Sons]

Signing Davies should be a priority this year. He has little left to prove in college and would be able to get some great development in Binghamton. Give him good minutes in all situations on the farm.

Really excited for Walsh as well but I feel he will stay at Harvard for another couple seasons.

Guys rave about Turcotte's talent but his injury woes worry me. Talent wise though, he is a top 5 player in this draft. Will be very interesting to see where he goes in 1st round.

If WALSH spends two more years at Harvard that takes him to free agency although who knows if they close that loophole in the next CBA.

 

[OmNomNom]

If WALSH spends two more years at Harvard that takes him to free agency although who knows if they close that loophole in the next CBA.

they won't, as the NHLPA will fight that tooth and nail (at least, i think the NHLPA?) - isn't this "loophole" for the benefit of college players who don't get signed by their drafting team?

 

[MichaelJ]

maybe it was just 1 person, idr tbh but yea seemed being compared to greene was a disappointment.

Getting a prime Greene as a later round pick? Who wouldn’t like that? I’m also assuming Davies would have help as Shero builds the defense, meaning he wouldn’t carry the burden Greene did. He could have the help that Andy was always lacking.

Grabbing a prime Andy Greene to play on the 2nd or even 3rd pair with a 7th round pick is a win any way you look at it.

 

[My3Sons]

they won't, as the NHLPA will fight that tooth and nail (at least, i think the NHLPA?) - isn't this "loophole" for the benefit of college players who don't get signed by their drafting team?

Sure, but tweak it a bit so if the drafting team offers an ELC they get to keep the player’s rights for another year? NCAA is a pretty cushy gig for the players and with the average age in the NCAA higher these days it’s not far off from AHL at times. In short it’s a good place to develop a player and an NHL team shouldn’t be penalized because the kid wants to play beer dice and enjoy the college life compared to the drudgery of the AHL.