Post by NJDevilsGM on Mar 12, 2023 17:41:17 GMT -5
Newark, NJ – The New Jersey announced their annual pre-trade deadline prospect rankings, and a total of 24 players aged 25 or younger were listed.
The rankings are a check in on what the team has for depth as the busiest time of the year for wheeling and dealing approaches and this year the list is heavy with defenseman and goaltenders but overall light on skilled forwards.
“We’ve noticed that trend as well,” said GM Trent Allen, talking to ESPN 8 ‘The Ocho’ reporter Phil McGroin. “I have no idea why they can’t find the back of the net. We drafted some of these smurfs because that was their biggest skill and I’m scoring more than they are. And I can’t even skate.”
Of the 24 players, only 10 are forwards and only three of the top 10. The blueline meanwhile is overflowing with elite talent as 11 defenseman make an appearance including top prospect Simon Nemec. Three goaltenders complete the list.
“It’d probably be a different list if Greg Stack wasn’t in the league,” Allen sounded off, referencing the Columbus Blue Jacket GM. “I think the guy has a spy in our draft room cause he keeps poaching guys right before it’s our turn to draft. I think this draft I’m going to send out a dummy list to throw him off.”
Allen went on to say he doesn’t think wunderkind Connor Bedard is first round worthy, calling the kid “skinnier than Jade Graber,” seemingly throwing another NsHL GM under the bus.
“That guy snags a few of our guys every year too,” Allen vented, “I blame telepathy.”
The Devils top 24 at-or-under 25 is as follows:
1. Simon Nemec, D: The clubs top pick in last years draft, going forth overall after a trade with the Boston Bruins that let New Jersey move up from sixth overall, the 19-year-old is already most of the way through his first pro season in the AHL, logging over 20 minutes a night and playing in all situations. The expectation is he will need at least one more year honing his game before possibly joining the Devils. “He already looks good in New Jersey colours,” Allen stated.
2. Peyton Krebs, C: One of several recent first round draft picks that were spent on forwards, Krebs joins the likes of Joe Veleno, Dylan Holloway and Isac Lundstrom as selections which have carved out some level of success but haven’t shown top end skill like what was demonstrated in their draft year. Still, the Devils feel Krebs will develop into a top six forward that can play all over the line up and in all situations while being a potential captain someday. “He is really a jack of all trades, which is good, but we wish he’d jack up his offense,” said Allen. Expect Krebs to challenge for a spot in New Jersey next season.
3. Thomas Harley, D: Harley looked like he’d be ready to burst into the Devils line up last year after an amazing season coming out of the Covid lockdown but instead the club has pumped the brakes on his development, instead preferring to see his two-way game emerge before opening a spot for him on the big club. “We need a game here like a Mark Giordano, not a Sandis Ozolinsh,” Allen explained. Harley could be a darkhorse tom make the Devils next season but is likely one or two more years away from being a regular in the NsHL.
4. Dustin Wolf, G: About the only thing that might make the embarrassment of the Brayden Point trade with the Philadelphia Flyers palpable is Wolf, a late round draft who has emerged as a potential goaltender of the future for the Devils. His minor league numbers are gaudy and he has posted a huge save percentage at every level he’s played at. He won’t be ready for New Jersey for a few years thanks to starter Ilya Sorokin and several other netminders ahead of him in the system, but he may force the organization to reconsider that timeline if he keep producing the way he has. “Honestly, he may get up her sooner if he changes the song they play every time he makes a big save,” said Allen. “Hungry Like a Wolf has got to be the equivalent of musical toilet paper.”
5. Luke Evangelista, RW: Arguably the most offensively skilled prospect in the organization, the Devils took a flyer on the kid in the second round in his draft year and all he’s done since then is produce, including a 55-goal season in his final year of junior. Evangelista is a year away from taking a run at a roster spot in New Jersey but he’s looking like a potentially great addition alongside Jack Eichel or Nico Hischier when he does make the club. “He’s got a lot of great skills and his game is coming along but after 55 goals in junior we expected more than a goal every five games as a pro,” said Allen. “He’s got to show us he cane score at this level too.”
6. Filip Gustavsson, G: The club has been patient with their netminding prospects the past several years and it’s really been paying off. While Sorokin has gone through the ranks to be the clubs long-term starter, several other goalies are showing they can be NsHL worthy as well, and that starts with Gustavsson. The 24-year-old has had an up and down development but this year he has really found his stride and shows he’s NsHL ready next season, if not earlier. “This kids putting up more blocks than a Lego convention,” said Allen. “He’s clearly taken another step in his development.”
7. Dylan Holloway, C: Holloway’s development was stalled by a knee injury he sustained that ate up over half of his season last year. While he’s been making progress since then and has had a solid season, the elite skill level he showed at the University of Wisconsin has been slow to reappear. “He’s looking like a potential Marty Reasoner. Nothing against Marty Reasoner but no one in the history of the NsHL has said ‘Ohhh, I have Marty Reasoner on my team. It’s time to go win a cup.’ It’s why half your listeners probably needed to go Google who the hell Marty Reasoner is right now, Phil. We need him to be more than that and he has to find his game again or find a new home.” The Devils are expected to sign Holloway to a pro deal after the season.
8. Kevin Bahl, D: What Bahl brings to the table is pretty obvious. The hulking 6’6 blueliner is a shutdown defender who eats up a lot of space and can clear you away from the front of the net, whether you want to go or not. “Imagine pairing him with Logan Stanley,” said Allen, nearly wetting himself. “It’s what hockey wet dreams are made of. Put them side by side and they could reach from here to Kentucky. Good luck getting across the blueline when they are a pairing. “Bahl is also expected to be signed by the Devils after the season, joining a crowded blueline in Richmond.
9. Lukas Cormier, D: Th exact opposite to Bahl, Cormier is a slick puckmoving blueliner who is making the transition from juniors to the pro ranks. It’s been an up and down year for the 20-year-old, but mostly up and he’s been able to rack up a decent amount of points while slowly having the reigns loosened. “The kid should be a future powerplay QB for us,” said allen. “Given our powerplay is as potent as expired Viagra, we could use some of that skill back there.”
10. Jeremie Poirier, D: Poirier and Cormier’s careers have almost mirrored each other since being taken nearly back to back in the 2020 NsHL Entry Draft and their development this season is no different. Poirier’s season has also had it’s peaks and valleys, going from being a 20-minute a game defender on the top powerplay unit to a healthy scratch and back again. The two are also putting up near identical numbers and are following the same timeline for cracking the New jersey line up, but a crowded blueline depth chart will make it a slow burn before that happens. Still, Cormier seems to have the edge in the race between the two as Poirier continues the draft day label of being very inconsistent. “d**n gingers,” Allen exclaimed. “Maybe if he dyed his hair he’d get somewhere.”
11. Thomas Novak, C: Some prospects seem to hover around the edges of having a pro career for years before emerging as not just a potential everyday player but possibly even a star. Novak fits that bill as the former third rounder in 2015 has erupted this after a solid but largely low key four year college career and three minor league seasons that included a stint in the East Coast Hockey League. Now in his fourth pro season and eighth since being drafted, Novak is looking like a diamond in the rough that could be a strong asset in the clubs top nine for years to come. “This guys’ come out of nowhere, just made this game his own, like that legendary internet clip about Leroy Jenkins. LEEEROOOOYYYYY JEEENNKKIIIIINNNSS,” Allen shouted.
12. Johnathan Kovacevic, D: Kovacevic is very similar to Novak, waiting patiently for an opportunity to shine before grasping that chance with both hands and running with it. The 25-year-old is playing a regular role in the top four for Richmond and figures to move up the depth chart this off-season as there is some anticipated roster shuffling expected in New Jersey due to the crowded blueline. “A true shutdown defenseman who has earned his opportunity. If we weren’t so thick on the backend, he’d be right on the cusp of a recall. It’s wonderful our backend is so thick though,” Allen said.
13. Wade Allison, RW: Leadership, grit, determination and hard-nosed hockey. That describes Allison to a tee and the winger has been slowly working his way up in through the ranks on the backbone of those traits. A few injuries set him back but not the club expected to sign the 6’2 forward this off-season and see him debut with Richmond next season. Allison projects to make his way to New Jersey shortly after and will fill an important role in the clubs bottom-six. “Every team needs a few guys that can get dirty and Wade can get dirtier than Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption.”
14. Justin Sourdif, RW: When he was drafted, the biggest holdback on Sourdif was his work ethic, which was labelled as subpar. Since then, the skilled forward has gone on to have three strong seasons, make the Canadian U-20 team for the World Junior Championships and make the Devils look smart tossing a third round pick at him in 2020. He won’t be a top line scorer, but Sourdif should be able to have a long and productive career as a middle-six winger if he keeps his nose to the grindstone. “We asked him to dig deep and he dug all the way to China,” said Allen. “He’s made us proud.”
15. Brett Berard, LW: If every team needs someone who can get dirty, they also need someone who every other team hates. Welcome Brett Berard. The 5’9 winger plays to piss you off and that can be a mix of good and bad, as demonstrated by his tournament leading 29 penalty minutes for Team USA at the recent U-20 World Juniors. Berard does bring some skill with him and has been a point per game player for much of his college career, but he’ll need to play with more restraint if he wants to fulfill his potential as a middle six forward. “The good news is he plays like Brad Marchand,” said Allen. “The bad news is he plays like Brad Marchand.”
16. Mattias Havelid, D: An injury early in the year robbed Havelid of a good portion of his season and a chance to play for Sweden at the recent World Juniors. Despite this, he’s demonstrated good growth in his development and has logged a regular shift in the Swedish Hockey League this season. The son of former NsHLer Niclas Havelid projects to have more skill than his old man but size may be the limiting factor. “If he was six feet tall he’d have been a sure-fire first rounder,” Allen explained. “Smurfs with upside are what you get in round two. So far so good but it’s a long way to go.”
17. Ryan Johnson, D: A one time first round pick who came to the team in the same deal that brought in Johnathan Kovacevic, Johnson is finally nearing the end of his college career. While some prospects take a long time to develop, the curve on Johnson’s improvement arches at about a 179-degree angle and he’ll likely need two or three more years in the minors before he’s ready to transition into he NsHL. What he’ll be when he gets there is anybody’s guess, as the defenseman is skilled in a lot of facets of the game but hasn’t really carved out a path as to what type of player he’ll be. “Watching his development is like watching paint dry,” said Allen. “It’s like trying to sit through a Shania Twain concert. No one has that much patience.”
18. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C: Drafted for his two-way play, McConnell-Barker has also stepped up his game in the offensive zone this year and looks like he may have the upside to be a second line forward after all. McConnell-Barker is a glue guy, one who brings a lot of intangibles to the table and can compete in the faceoff circle while able to grind out a game in the corners. “The kid is a battler, we like to see that,” noted Allen.
19. Declan Chisholm, D: Another in the long list of skilled defenders who need to figure things out in their own end, Chisholm is one of the elders in that group, and the time to sink or swim on him is much closer than players like Poirier and Cormier. Chisholm is a candidate to be signed by the club to a deal this off-season. “We need defensemen who don’t look lost but if you are going to look lost, do it in the offensive zone, not your own side of the ice. He might need a map to find his own net,” Allen explained.
20. Ty Nelson, D: A stocky but small defender grabbed by New Jersey in the third round of the 2022 NsHL Entry Draft, Nelson has already blown away his numbers from last year, more than doubling his goal total to 22 and posting 70 points in 63 games this season after amassing 51 in 66 last season. The offensive outburst was a pleasant surprise, but not likely what will make or break his future as a NsHLer. “Those numbers are great but he’s doing it on a strong club where his defensive lapses can be hidden,” Allen said. “Let’s see how he looks next year when the competition catches up a little bit.”
21. Vasiliy Ponomarev, C: Injuries, Covid and splitting a season between North America and Russia has cost Ponomarev approximately 80 games the past three seasons, or the equivalent of one full season, and the impact is showing. While still posting solid numbers, Ponomarev has slide down the prospect charts and now projects as more of a third line centre comparable to a Brandon Sutter. “He’s lost time so he needs to step up his game so he is passed over further,” said Allen. “Right now, he’s sinking like the Titanic.”
22. Shai Buium, D: A trade deadline pick up last year from the Vancouver Canucks, Buium is forging a future as a two-way blueliner with some solid skills offensively but weak defensive zone coverage. Sound familiar? The Devils hope to see Buium craft more consistency in his game as he continues his college career. “Our list is long on kids who can pass the puck or skate with it,” said Allen. “We need to see more who can do something without it as well.”
23. Tristan Lennox, G: The Devils took a flyer on Lennox shortly after the 2021 NsHL Draft, sending a third round pick to Carolina for him after they drafted him in the third round themselves just a few months earlier. Taking Lennox after he missed all of the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid lockdown was a risk but so far it seems to be paying off as Lennox continues to develop in the Ontario Hockey League. Next year will be a big test for the 20-year-old as he looks to make the jump to the pro ranks. “He’s way down the goalie depth chart for us so we can take all the time we need to let him ripen,” said Allen. “At the moment he’s buried deeper than Jimmy Hoffa.”
24. Parker Kelly, LW: The purely defensive forward is in his second season with Richmond and continues to slowly work on being an everyday pro. The club doesn’t expect much more than a fourth line role for the energy player, though he has seen some time on the powerplay this year and posted reasonable numbers. “It’s work ethic alone that will get him to the NsHL because his hands as about as smooth as Ben Grimm’s,” Allen assessed.
While not 25 or younger, the Devils are also high on a couple of other minor-leaguers in Jani Hakanpaa and Niko MIkkola, both defensemen in Richmond. Hakanpaa has been with the Devils since Allen’s first season and the club has stuck by the physical blueliner even through a four year stint back in Europe. Now the expectation is Hakanpaa will make the move to New Jersey next year and signed him to a three year extension as part of that commitment. Mikkola meanwhile is right behind Hakanpaa and could see time with the pro team next year as well.
“Our defensive depth has been strong for years now and as a result some guy maybe haven’t come up as soon as we’d like, including Jani and Niko,” said Allen. “We hope to address this in years to come because guys like this deserve chances sooner than later.”
