{"id":51822,"date":"2019-07-17T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=51822"},"modified":"2019-09-21T19:56:50","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T23:56:50","slug":"new-jersey-devils-prospects-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/07\/17\/new-jersey-devils-prospects-2\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: New Jersey Devils Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2019 Top Shelf Prospects series.\u00a0 As we go through the Summer of 2019 LWOH will be featuring a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. We will be following the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks) and\u00a0you can find all the articles here<\/a>.\u00a0 Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, we will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2019 draft, as there have been no games since then, and our reports on them will not have changed. Today we look at the New Jersey Devils Prospects.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"What we will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2019-20 roster of the NHL team in question. We will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who we pick as our dark horse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn\u2019t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils Prospects<\/h1>\n

After making the playoffs in 2017-18, the 2018-19 Devils could not continue the momentum. Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall<\/a><\/strong> was limited to just 33 games. Nico Hischier<\/a><\/strong> also missed 13 games, causing him to score five fewer points than his rookie campaign. In net, Keith Kinkaid<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0struggled after winning the starter’s job in late 2018 and Cory Schneider<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>started slowly before showing some promise later in the season. All in all, it lead to the Devils missing the playoffs by quite some distance.<\/p>\n

Changes were needed and the off-season has been a busy one in New Jersey. The team won the draft lottery, receiving the first overall pick. They also used their cap space to acquire a Norris Trophy-winning<\/a> defenceman in P.K. Subban<\/a><\/strong>. Power forward Wayne Simmonds<\/a><\/strong> signed a one-year deal<\/a>. The team still has cap space and could make even more moves. They have improved their core though, and now look to add some of their youngsters to it.<\/p>\n

2019 NHL Draft Picks (Grade A+<\/a>):\u00a0\u00a0Jack Hughes<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Nikita Okhotyuk<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Daniil Misyul<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Graeme Clarke<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Michael Vukojevic<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Tyce Thompson<\/strong>,\u00a0Case McCarthy<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Cole Brady<\/strong>,\u00a0Arseny Gritsyuk<\/strong>,\u00a0Patrick Moynihan<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Nikola Pasic<\/strong>,
\n2018-19 Graduations: Brett Seney<\/a><\/strong>, Kurtis Gabriel<\/a><\/strong> (age)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Prospect: Jack Hughes<\/h3>\n

The Devils drafted Hughes with the 1st overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Hughes. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

#2 Prospect: Ty Smith<\/h3>\n

Defence \u2014 shoots Left
\nBorn March 24th, 2000 \u2014 Lloydminster, Alberta
\nHeight 5\u201911\u201d \u2014 Weight 179 lbs [180 cm \/ 81 kg]<\/p>\n