New Jersey Devils

Exploring every option the New Jersey Devils have with the No. 1 pick
June 15, 2017, 2:16 PM ET [48 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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There is a ton of speculation about what the New Jersey Devils will do with the top pick in next week's draft.

Will they draft Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick? Will they trade down?

I have plenty of thoughts on what they should, could, and will do. With not much else happening (yet), I figured I'd share them:

1) As is the case every year, there are a lot of rumors about the No. 1 pick being traded. I'd never rule it out completely with Ray Shero in charge -- he is open to trading anything or anyone for the right price -- but the top pick has never been traded in the salary cap era and I doubt things change this year. Potential stars who can make meaningful contributions while carrying cheap cap hits are just too valuable.

2) If, and this is a massive if, the Devils were to trade down, what makes sense? Let's go team-by-team here.

2nd overall -- it's probably safe to say a trade with Philadelphia is out of the question.

3rd overall -- the Stars want to get back into the playoffs and trading the pick for a high-end defenseman appears much more likely than in a package to move up.

4th overall -- a package including the pick and 25-year-old Tyson Barrie could get Ray Shero's attention but I don't think the Avs are in a position where they can part with multiple high-end assets in exchange for one.

5th overall -- Vancouver is rumored to be interested in moving up but they don't have much to offer. Chris Tanev is really good but does it make sense for the Devils to trade down to pick up a somewhat injury prone defenseman who turns 28 this upcoming season? I don't think so.

6th overall -- Vegas' best assets will be all the picks they acquire in exchange for taking on bad contracts and/or not selecting certain players in the expansion draft. The Devils already have 21 picks over the next two drafts so a package of picks probably doesn't do much for them, especially considering they're rumored to want Cale Makar or Miro Heiskanen if they trade down, both of whom will almost certainly be gone by this pick.

7th overall -- if Arizona wants to put Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Clayton Keller on the table, maybe something could be worked out. I very much doubt they do.

8th over...yeah, I don't need to go any further.

3) Regarding the Nico Hischier vs Nolan Patrick debate, I'm firmly in Hischier's corner. I like to think I've done a lot of homework on the two players and I am confident saying Hischier is the best option.

Hischier may not have Patrick's shot power, but he has a deceptive release and an accurate shot that makes him a very dangerous shooter. I love his playmaking ability and how he dishes the puck to teammates, then attacks the space created from moving the puck. I love his play without the puck and continue to believe it's much better than he gets credit for. There is so much to like about his game and I just don't think there is anything stopping him from turning into a dynamic yet responsible two-way player for years to come.

Patrick is really good, obviously, but I think Hischier has better puck skills, is a better skater and, though I'm not overly worried about Patrick's injury history, Hischier's clean bill of health has to be somewhat of an advantage.

Hischier looks better from a statistical​ standpoint, too, as he was the only player in the CHL to finish top-5 among draft eligibles in both even-strength goals and even-strength assists per 60.

4) What about standing pat at No. 1 and drafting a defenseman? That's a great question, I'm glad you asked.

I don't see it.

Hischier is No. 1 on my board, No. 1 on HockeyProspect's board, No. 1 on Craig Button's board, No. 1 on Bob McKenzie's leaked board, etc.

Meanwhile, Patrick sits No. 2 on each list and, until a few months ago, was the consensus No. 1 in this draft for years.

Are the Devils going to pass on not one, but two, players who sit atop perhaps every team's list in the league? No, because that'd be bad asset management.

If they want a defenseman, they'll trade down and get at least *something* for the pick. I don't see that happening, though. When all is said and done, I think they'll stand pat at No. 1 and take Nico or Nolan -- hopefully the former.

Luckily, we only have to wait one more week to find out.