![]() ![]() Nikita Chibrikov is a fantastic, physical scorer.Ī playmaking, dual-threat, excitable player in Aleksandr KisakovĪs for Morreale, he believes the Devils would also be wise to address the goaltending depth within the organization. Samu Tuomaala has one of the best one-timers in the draft. Simon Robertsson is a big fast who can finish. Kournianos pinpointed a few players that could help in the finish department for the Devils. ![]() When you have such skilled playmakers, you want to compliment them." They're always ranking near the bottom in the league in offense. … I think goal scoring has been a problem for the organization forever. "You take a homerun swing with your first pick (fourth overall). "As you get later into the first round you can look at need," he said. Kournianos believes that's a pick that the team should use to fill a severe need. The Devils will be selecting anywhere from 28 to 31 (Arizona forfeited its first-round pick due to a rules violation) with their second first-round pick from the NY Islanders in exchange for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac (if the Islanders make the Stanley Cup Final, then the fourth-round pick that the Devils' acquired in the trade will move to a third-round pick). He also has a fantastic shot." THE SECOND FIRST "This is a guy that'll go north-south, east-west, he'll do whatever it takes to take the puck, distribute it and get into the offensive zone and be that playmaker that you want to see. "The ceiling might be the highest for Kent Johnson and what he can bring to the table," said Morreale, who compared Johnson's stride to Chicago's Patrick Kane. Or, Michigan's Kent Johnson could be a wildcard pick. That's a good pick right there," Morreale said. If not, another player could by Edmonton's (Western Hockey League) Dylan Guenther. "If so, maybe the Devils might want to give it a shot." "I think there's a real good chance that William Eklund drops to No. He's so dangerous inside or out."Īnd Morreale believes the Devils may have a chance to select Eklund, the Swedish winger that played with Devils' top prospect Alexander Holtz (seventh-overall in 2020) in Djurgardens. I don't think he can play center if they asked him to. He's a tough, inside player in addition to being a dynamic skilled type. "William Eklund is absolutely dynamic," Kournianos said. So, if the Devils go against the conventional thinking and select a forward, here are a few that Morreale and Kournianos think would make sense. After all, they also have a need for some offensive finishers as well. Though the Devils certainly need more youth and organizational depth on the blue line, that doesn't predetermine that they'll use the No. He's a power-play quarterback, instant breakout, incredibly high hockey IQ, good size, leadership qualities and I like his enthusiasm. He actually played in Slovakia this year because of the OHL shutdown. "There's a right-handed defenseman named Brandt Clarke out of the OHL in Barrie. "From a need standpoint, I would say they need a right defenseman more than a left. "(The Devils) have a lot of defensemen on the left side from previous drafts," Kournianos said. Though Kournianos has Hughes mocked to New Jersey, he thinks another player would be a better fit with the organizational needs. "My gut instinct, and the player I have the Devils taking right now, is Luke Hughes." "Knowing what the Devils need, not only positionally but where that player might play at the point, with Luke Hughes, I think you have the best of both worlds," Morreale said. Both men have Luke as New Jersey's choice in their most recent mock drafts. And he has a familiar surname: Luke Hughes, brother of Devils' center and 2019 first-overall pick Jack. There seems to be a consensus among Morreale and Kournianos on which player the Devils will select once they are on the clock for the fourth-overall pick. ![]()
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