AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
The dust has settled since the 2018 draft, and the Devils walked away with a Massive 13 picks!
The organization had a plan and they felt they delivered on it. The plan was simple - restock the prospects! The prospect pool was left pretty barren when the new ownership took over, but still had a few highly touted players. The Devils management made a few moves to try and add some further depth in acquiring additional prospects and picks by moving out top prospects in Daniel Sprong, Owen Tippett, and a few 2020 picks..But what was left and what was added at the draft is a strong top 10 prospect list and a very solid under 23 core at the HFNHL level. Below is the future of the Devils, and though we are not where we want to be depth wise, we are well on our way to having a top 10 prospect pool.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS:
1. Kirill Kaprizov - LW - Depending on who you talk to, Kaprizov is either in the top 5 prospects in the world, or some have even higher bordering on the next name after Dahlin. Regardless of where he ranks, there is no doubting his elite skill level, offensive creativity, and level of compete he has shown playing against men in the KHL. The only knock on him is he is signed for 2 years in the KHL. When he comes, and we do say WHEN he comes, this is a franchise changing player that we feel will have an Artemi Panarin like impact on our team and the league. We patiently await for Kaprizov to come over to North America, but in the meantime we will continue to watch highlight reel after highlight reel which he has already started in just the first 2 games of the KHL season.
2. Timothy Liljegren - RD - Our top defensive prospect and another highly regarded prospect that typically hovers in the top 20-25 overall in the game right now. Timothy had a strong season in the AHL last year, performing admirably against players far more mature and stronger against him. He still needs time to mature and grow his overall game, but what he displayed at the AHL level was impressive. Poise, confidence, and an overall transition game that will make him a pro player for the next 8-10 years. We are being patient with him as we have depth on our big club, but he is the first guy up for this organization as we have envisioned him with Subban on our top pair in the next 2-3 years.
3. Jay O'Brien - C - What more can we say about this kid that hasn't already been said. He is just a buzzsaw on the ice, always flying around and creating offense. He was one of, if not THE most notable player for the US at the WJC eval camp last month. His hands are just so smooth, his skating is elite, always looking as the fastest skater on the ice, and the ice was occupied by Quinn Hughes as well. O'Brien has drawn comparisons to a young Jeremy Roenick for a number of reasons, size and skill (and Thayer Academy) being main reasons why...but also is attitude and confidence, as he is a hard working kid that believes he can be an elite player for us soon. We traded up to land the young man with our 2nd round pick, and he has already leapfrogged our first rounders as well as some others we had in the system. Very excited for his future and look forward to him in the fall at Providence College.
4. Ian Mitchell - RD - One of the most dominating young defenders in the NCAA last year, Mitchell was part of one heck of a team at Denver. Many of the top players have graduated, but Ian is returning for his junior season as THE MAN. Ian will be responsible on the power play and penalty kill, he will be logging massive minutes for the Pioneers, and we are absolutely excited for the role and opportunity he will have there even under new coaching. We expect Ian to sign with us after his year is done at the NCAA level, and along with Liljegren will bring skating, mobility, and a transition game we have needed for some time.
5. Jake Wise - C - Jake has been a player we have watched closely for years. He is a player that we are confident will continue to showcase and skyrocket up the ranks. Heading to BU in the fall, Wise has every chance to be one of the top players there. He is such a smart and cerebral player, a pass first mentality in the same vein as Nick Schmaltz. His offensive IQ is off the charts, and his frame of 5'11 200lbs has him as a solidly built skilled center. He has plenty of time to mature and grow, but last year Wise had one of the best ppg seasons in USNDP history but was overlooked due to the depth of the program with Farabee, Wahlstrom, Hughes, etc. We jumped on him in the first round, and absolutely look forward to his future and development.
6. Yegor Rykov - LD - Another later round gem that has rocketed up the charts. Not a completely known player but one that we believe will be in the HFNHL as soon as next season. Smooth, patient, and a solid head for the game, Yegor checks every box you can want for a young defender. He has more than hold his own the past two seasons in the KHL, this is the season he really steps out into the spotlight as a top defensive prospect in the world. His offensive game continues to grow and his shot has strengthened as well over the past season. We would like to see him utilize his shot more, but that will come with time.
7. Bode Wilde - RD - There is a lot to like with Bode and some concerns as well. When we drafted at 25th overall, we had to weigh all of it together and in the end we felt that his ceiling was just too high to pass up on. Decision making, decision making, decision making...that is the area Bode needs to improve on. With news that he is headed to the OHL to play for Saginaw, we hope he can figure it all out and be the dominating player we have seen for stretches the past three years. Big, skilled, mobile, this is the type of defender that can excel in today's game, and we fully expect to see him showcase his skill the next few seasons in the OHL.
8. Lukas Jasek - RW- Another pleasant surprise, Jasek has rocketed up our ranks and rocketed up the ranks of hockey winding up in the AHL last year. Almost a ppg in his brief stint, a number of things were apparent with Lukas, the kid has skill and I think we are just seeing the beginning of what he can do. Lukas has a solid build, but like with all young players needs to build on strength and filling out. We would like to see a quicker first step as well, but overall he has a solid nose for the net and has surprised with his accuracy and shot strength.
9. Ruslan Iskhakov - RW- The diminutive Russian speedster has wow'd us the entire season last year. We snagged him up in the 2nd round and couldn't have been happier in the process. We love the skill set and compete level he has, very reminiscent of a younger Johnny Gaudreau. It is no slam dunk that he can transition to the HFNHL, but when you are as skilled as he is and have the drive that he does, we are not betting against him for one second. We expect Ruslan to take a few years to grow, get stronger, and work on his craft, but when he is ready he will have a great chance to step in right away and showcase that ability.
10. Blake McLaughlin - LW - Another 2018 draftee, Blake has all the tools you can want in a player. Skilled hands, quick feet, solid vision, and high IQ. He again like many others, needs to work on consistency and strength as he tailed off a bit in the second half in the USHL last year. He will be a top player for the Gophers in Minnesota this coming year, and we are excited to see the role he will have there which will likely be similar to what Casey Mittelstadt did there as a freshman.
HM - Sean Durzi -D, Kody Clark -LW, Paul Cotter - LW/C
TOP 5 UNDER 23
Since we are rebuilding our prospect pool, figured we look at our top 5 u23 players currently on our main roster. We are very excited with this group as being our core to continue to build around.
1. Teuvo Teravainen - 23 - Our star LW is only getting better and better each year. We expect massive things from him this season playing on the line with Wheeler and Tarasenko.
2. Travis Konecny - 21 - Another highly skilled versatile forward, last year was just the beginning for Konecny who will be getting consistent top 6 minutes this year. We fully expect Konecny to be one of our leaders for the next decade.
3, Ryan Pulock - 23 - Our top young defenseman, Pulock is starting to round into form. Need more consistency from him, but pairing him with ME-Vlasic seems like the logical choice to get him the minutes and tutelage he needs to continue to succeed.
4. Timo Meier - LW/RW - 21 - Another highly skilled young forward, Meier is ready to take on a bigger role with the team. We want to see Timo use that excellent shot of his more and he could be in line for a 30-30 season if everything hits right!
5. Pavel Buchnevich - 23 - We are just starting to realize what we have here. Pavel at times can lift people out of the seats, but we need to see that more consistently. He has amazing skills and the future is beyond bright with this young man.
The organization had a plan and they felt they delivered on it. The plan was simple - restock the prospects! The prospect pool was left pretty barren when the new ownership took over, but still had a few highly touted players. The Devils management made a few moves to try and add some further depth in acquiring additional prospects and picks by moving out top prospects in Daniel Sprong, Owen Tippett, and a few 2020 picks..But what was left and what was added at the draft is a strong top 10 prospect list and a very solid under 23 core at the HFNHL level. Below is the future of the Devils, and though we are not where we want to be depth wise, we are well on our way to having a top 10 prospect pool.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS:
1. Kirill Kaprizov - LW - Depending on who you talk to, Kaprizov is either in the top 5 prospects in the world, or some have even higher bordering on the next name after Dahlin. Regardless of where he ranks, there is no doubting his elite skill level, offensive creativity, and level of compete he has shown playing against men in the KHL. The only knock on him is he is signed for 2 years in the KHL. When he comes, and we do say WHEN he comes, this is a franchise changing player that we feel will have an Artemi Panarin like impact on our team and the league. We patiently await for Kaprizov to come over to North America, but in the meantime we will continue to watch highlight reel after highlight reel which he has already started in just the first 2 games of the KHL season.
2. Timothy Liljegren - RD - Our top defensive prospect and another highly regarded prospect that typically hovers in the top 20-25 overall in the game right now. Timothy had a strong season in the AHL last year, performing admirably against players far more mature and stronger against him. He still needs time to mature and grow his overall game, but what he displayed at the AHL level was impressive. Poise, confidence, and an overall transition game that will make him a pro player for the next 8-10 years. We are being patient with him as we have depth on our big club, but he is the first guy up for this organization as we have envisioned him with Subban on our top pair in the next 2-3 years.
3. Jay O'Brien - C - What more can we say about this kid that hasn't already been said. He is just a buzzsaw on the ice, always flying around and creating offense. He was one of, if not THE most notable player for the US at the WJC eval camp last month. His hands are just so smooth, his skating is elite, always looking as the fastest skater on the ice, and the ice was occupied by Quinn Hughes as well. O'Brien has drawn comparisons to a young Jeremy Roenick for a number of reasons, size and skill (and Thayer Academy) being main reasons why...but also is attitude and confidence, as he is a hard working kid that believes he can be an elite player for us soon. We traded up to land the young man with our 2nd round pick, and he has already leapfrogged our first rounders as well as some others we had in the system. Very excited for his future and look forward to him in the fall at Providence College.
4. Ian Mitchell - RD - One of the most dominating young defenders in the NCAA last year, Mitchell was part of one heck of a team at Denver. Many of the top players have graduated, but Ian is returning for his junior season as THE MAN. Ian will be responsible on the power play and penalty kill, he will be logging massive minutes for the Pioneers, and we are absolutely excited for the role and opportunity he will have there even under new coaching. We expect Ian to sign with us after his year is done at the NCAA level, and along with Liljegren will bring skating, mobility, and a transition game we have needed for some time.
5. Jake Wise - C - Jake has been a player we have watched closely for years. He is a player that we are confident will continue to showcase and skyrocket up the ranks. Heading to BU in the fall, Wise has every chance to be one of the top players there. He is such a smart and cerebral player, a pass first mentality in the same vein as Nick Schmaltz. His offensive IQ is off the charts, and his frame of 5'11 200lbs has him as a solidly built skilled center. He has plenty of time to mature and grow, but last year Wise had one of the best ppg seasons in USNDP history but was overlooked due to the depth of the program with Farabee, Wahlstrom, Hughes, etc. We jumped on him in the first round, and absolutely look forward to his future and development.
6. Yegor Rykov - LD - Another later round gem that has rocketed up the charts. Not a completely known player but one that we believe will be in the HFNHL as soon as next season. Smooth, patient, and a solid head for the game, Yegor checks every box you can want for a young defender. He has more than hold his own the past two seasons in the KHL, this is the season he really steps out into the spotlight as a top defensive prospect in the world. His offensive game continues to grow and his shot has strengthened as well over the past season. We would like to see him utilize his shot more, but that will come with time.
7. Bode Wilde - RD - There is a lot to like with Bode and some concerns as well. When we drafted at 25th overall, we had to weigh all of it together and in the end we felt that his ceiling was just too high to pass up on. Decision making, decision making, decision making...that is the area Bode needs to improve on. With news that he is headed to the OHL to play for Saginaw, we hope he can figure it all out and be the dominating player we have seen for stretches the past three years. Big, skilled, mobile, this is the type of defender that can excel in today's game, and we fully expect to see him showcase his skill the next few seasons in the OHL.
8. Lukas Jasek - RW- Another pleasant surprise, Jasek has rocketed up our ranks and rocketed up the ranks of hockey winding up in the AHL last year. Almost a ppg in his brief stint, a number of things were apparent with Lukas, the kid has skill and I think we are just seeing the beginning of what he can do. Lukas has a solid build, but like with all young players needs to build on strength and filling out. We would like to see a quicker first step as well, but overall he has a solid nose for the net and has surprised with his accuracy and shot strength.
9. Ruslan Iskhakov - RW- The diminutive Russian speedster has wow'd us the entire season last year. We snagged him up in the 2nd round and couldn't have been happier in the process. We love the skill set and compete level he has, very reminiscent of a younger Johnny Gaudreau. It is no slam dunk that he can transition to the HFNHL, but when you are as skilled as he is and have the drive that he does, we are not betting against him for one second. We expect Ruslan to take a few years to grow, get stronger, and work on his craft, but when he is ready he will have a great chance to step in right away and showcase that ability.
10. Blake McLaughlin - LW - Another 2018 draftee, Blake has all the tools you can want in a player. Skilled hands, quick feet, solid vision, and high IQ. He again like many others, needs to work on consistency and strength as he tailed off a bit in the second half in the USHL last year. He will be a top player for the Gophers in Minnesota this coming year, and we are excited to see the role he will have there which will likely be similar to what Casey Mittelstadt did there as a freshman.
HM - Sean Durzi -D, Kody Clark -LW, Paul Cotter - LW/C
TOP 5 UNDER 23
Since we are rebuilding our prospect pool, figured we look at our top 5 u23 players currently on our main roster. We are very excited with this group as being our core to continue to build around.
1. Teuvo Teravainen - 23 - Our star LW is only getting better and better each year. We expect massive things from him this season playing on the line with Wheeler and Tarasenko.
2. Travis Konecny - 21 - Another highly skilled versatile forward, last year was just the beginning for Konecny who will be getting consistent top 6 minutes this year. We fully expect Konecny to be one of our leaders for the next decade.
3, Ryan Pulock - 23 - Our top young defenseman, Pulock is starting to round into form. Need more consistency from him, but pairing him with ME-Vlasic seems like the logical choice to get him the minutes and tutelage he needs to continue to succeed.
4. Timo Meier - LW/RW - 21 - Another highly skilled young forward, Meier is ready to take on a bigger role with the team. We want to see Timo use that excellent shot of his more and he could be in line for a 30-30 season if everything hits right!
5. Pavel Buchnevich - 23 - We are just starting to realize what we have here. Pavel at times can lift people out of the seats, but we need to see that more consistently. He has amazing skills and the future is beyond bright with this young man.
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