Devils Draft Day Recap

The New Jersey Devils Scouting staff had their hands full in preparing for July 28's 2018 EHE Entry Draft. 

The Devils made a grand total of 11 selections in the league's 5-round draft. 

Rookie General Manager Cole Bates had a plan going in, and that plan was executed smoothly.  The Devils personal draft day agenda prioritized spreading positional depth, while targeting prospects with speed, skill and smarts, who are close to being NHL ready, or EHE-eligible.

"Scouting for this years draft, we quickly recognized the abundance of  over-age players, whom we expected to be available where we were picking."  Said Bates, before elaborating further.

"This year, given our circumstances, it was important for us to spread positional depth,  and insulate players quickly.  Our draft will better-equip the Devils for both the near, and distant future." 

In a nutshell, Bates is banking on an influx of AHL, and NHL-ready players coming in via the draft, to supplement the Devils organizational depth; while the team continues it’s rebuild. 

Lets take a closer look at the teams scouting report on all 11 of their picks: 

Please note that all “Outlooks” are opinions based on potential, and best-case scenarios.

Colton Point (G) #30 Overall

6ft4 Sophmore NCAA Goaltender went 11-8-4, posting a .944 Save Percentage, and 6 Shutouts for a very weak Colgate University team.  Colgate was consistently outplayed, and outshot.  The team  surrendered 30 plus shots per night on average, and placed 48th among 60 NCAA teams in goals for, while placing 6th out of 60 teams in shots-against.

Perhaps Point's most impressive achievement came in a game against Harvard University.  Colgate was outshot 52-21. Point stood on his head, stopping all 52 shots, earning the shutout victory for his team.

In one season, Point went from off the radar 7th round prospect, to potential NHL starting Goaltender. He even managed to earn himself the back-up job behind Carter Hart for Canada's World Junior team after a terrific camp.  Point managed one 20-save shut out victory in his only game of the tournament

Colton Point is a late bloomer who likely needs considerable time to develop at the pro level.  Point will need to build off his strong season as he also has excellent competition in Dallas with 2017 1st Round Pick Jake Oettinger.

Outlook: Elite Starting Goaltender

Nicolas Beaudin (D) #32 Overall

A fluid-skating puck-moving defender with quick, agile feet, sublime vision, and elite hockey sense.  

Beaudin fits the mold of new age modern-day NHL defensemen.

The skill and hockey sense is reflected in the point per game pace he posted for Drummondville in the QMJHL. Beaudin posted 69 points in 67 regular season games, and 11 points in 10 playoff games.  Beaudin's level of on-ice awareness that allows him to see plays develop in advance.  

Defensively, he is able to use his skating to escape forecheckers and open up passing lanes. Beaudin is a positionally sound player with a good stick, and made steady progression with his play on the defensive side of the puck throughout last season.  

Bates has been bullish on Beaudin all season long, having him in the 1st round even when he was consistently being ranked in the 40's-70's earlier this season.  The Devils GM expects Beaudin to add strength and continue to improve in his own zone.

Outlook:  Top 4 point-producing Defensemen. Powerplay QB.

Mason Appleton (RW/C) #40 Overall

The AHL's Rookie of the year amassed an outstanding 66 points in 76 Games playing in his first pro season with the Moose.  Appleton is a heady playnajer with excellent on ice awareness, great puck protection skills, and a strong shot to boot. 

With subtractions at the NHL level, Appleton should at the very least figure into his first NHL game this season.  Although Appleton's number one goal is to make the big club out of camp, it is more likely he spends another year in the AHL.  

Appleton is known for having a sound 200 foot game and can play both on the wing or down the middle.  Mason projects as a safe bet to be a top 9 forward with some limited upside as a potential top 6 option.  In the EHE, Appleton looks to debut as a key contributor for the Devils AHL affiliate in Springfield this season.

Outlook: Top 9 Forward

Christian Wolanin (D) #43 Overall

Smooth-skating jack of all trades type Defenseman stepped directly into the Sens line up during a late season 10 game stint after leading University of North Dakota in scoring (as a defenseman!). 

Wolanin is a cunning, mobile defender who can get the job done at both ends of the ice.  Christian recorded 3 points in his 10 game stint, and was seen by many around the Sens as one of their best defensemen during that time.

Due to the Senators depth Wolanin could become an NHL regular as a top 4 defender as soon as next season.  In the EHE, Wolanin will get a shot to crack the Devils but could also be a huge addition to the minor league affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.

Outlook: Top 4 Defenseman, PK, PP2.

Lukas Jasek (RW) #74 Overall

Jasek is a fast, straight line player with solid work ethic, a blistering shot, good puck protection.  Jasek plays a sound two-way game with an edge, and is relentless in his pursuit of the puck.  Lukas is somewhat of an unknown commodity after spending the last few seasons playing against men in his native of the Czech Republic. 

Jasek came over to North America late last season with a bang, scoring 7 points during a short 6 game AHL stint (6 of which coming at even strength). 

Right now, Jasek projects as more of a bottom-6 winger, but does have some nice offensive upside.

Back in 2014-2015 U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Jasek notched 4 goals and 7 points in five games against top-level peers.  That total tied him for 5th in tournament scoring with some very lofty names including Kirill Kaprizov, Sebastian Aho, Matt Barzal, and Mitch Marner.  

Outlook:  Top 9 Forward

Alex Iafallo (LW) #79 Overall

Iafallo was a pleasant surprise this past season, coming off his senior NCAA campaign where he recorded 51 points, Iafallo signed with the Kings last summer and put up 9 goals and 25 points with a +10 rating in his 75-game Rookie campaign. 

Iafallo is a spark plug-type player with speed, skill, and a god shot.  Alex's defensive prowess, and dog-like puck pursuit, are what ultimately allowed him to make a seamless transition to the NHL level from College. 

The production as a rookie makes him (at the very least) a safe bet to be a regular 10 plus goal, 30 point producer in the NHL.  Bates hopes Iafallo can improve on his rookie season, and become an affordable regular in the Devils top 9, or bottom 6 forward group.  Iafallo will join the Devils in the EHE next season, where he will likely see a regular shift with the big club.

Outlook:  Top 9 Forward

 Joey Keane (D) #111

An elite skater with incredible edgework and mobility.  Keane is a 6 ft 183 pound, puck-moving offensive minded Defenseman with NHL-level skating, who will be a right-shot option for the Devils moving forward.  Joey pushes the pace of attack but is also a reliable player in his own zone and tough to beat one on one. 

Combine these traits with good passing abilities, smart decision-making, a bit of a mean streak, and you have a very intriguing prospect. 

Keane, 19, is a late-bloomer who played this past season for the Barrie Colts (scoring 45 points in 62 games and finishing as a finalist for OHL defenseman of the year).  Joey will look to build on his over-age draft year this season in the OHL, and transition to the AHL in 2019-2020 (making him EHE eligible by 2020-2021).

At the on-going World Junior Summer Showcase, the defender was recently singled out as a player who impressed the U.S.A Hockey brass.  This is a good sign for the Devils, who were counting on Keane to make the team after nabbing him in the 4th round.

Outlook: Top 4 Defenseman

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (LW) #115

Another superb skater with lightning fast, straight line speed.  Fjallby is a north-south, relentless puck pursuer, sandpaper-type winger with good puck skills and a heavy shot. 

Fjallby excelled during the SHL playoffs for Djurgardens scoring 6 goals and 8 points in 11 games (as a 19/20 year old still eligible for the J20 league). 

Axel also had a strong showing at the 2018 World Junior Championship for Sweden, scoring some big goals, and serving as (arguably) the tournaments top Penalty Killer.  He has played internationally for Sweden at both the U18 and U20 World Championships.

Fjallby will play next season in the AHL and become EHE eligible in 2019-2020.  Bates calls him "The ideal bottom 6 forward, the kind of player that helps you win games, especially in the post season."

Outlook: Bottom 6 Forward - Top Line Penalty Killer

Jordy Bellerive (C) #124

A fierce competitor is a straight-line player with good speed and a blistering shot.  Bellerive produced 46 goals and 92 points in 72 games during his 18/19 year old season. 

Jordy's lightning quick release and tireless work ethic are his best traits.  Bellerive captained the Lethbrige Hurricanes last season, leading the team in points (17 ahead of his next closest teammate).  

Earlier this summer in mid June Bellerive suffered severe burns to his hands thanks to a bonfire incident with current and former teammates.  Jordy is expected to make a full recovery and has already begun skating this summer. 

Despite having to miss out on his invite to Canadaès Summer Showcase for the 2019 World Junior Championship, Bellerive still has a shot to crack the roster.  The Devils expect Bellerive to be EHE eligible by 2020-2021 unless he gets a late season call-up to the AHL once his junior season ends.

Outlook: Bottom 6 Forward

Ty Lewis (LW) #136 Overall

Speedy left-winger with smarts galore, skill, a great shot, and seeing-eye vision.  Lewis is a defensively responsible player who is know for having very few holes in his overall game. 

Lewis lead a relatively weaker than normal Brandon Wheat Kings squad in scoring this past season, potting 44 goals and 100 points in 70 games, and 13 points in 11 playoff games. 

Eligible for one more season in junior, he chose to sign with the Avalance and turn pro after going undrafted in his previous draft-eligible seasons. 

General Manager Cole Bates called this another "safe pick" and said he is excited to see how Ty Lewis translates to the AHL level, the Devils are looking forward to the winger becoming EHE eligible in the 2019-2020 season.

Outlook:  Bottom 6 Forward

Sheldon Rempal (RW) #151 Overall

Dynamic, diminutive, highly skilled forward with a good shot and exceptional vision was electric for Clarkson University in the NCAA. 

Rempal left school one year early after potting 23 goals and 46 points in 39 games. 

Rempal is an east-west, puck control fiend who manufactures offense from speed, mobility, skill, and creativity.  Rempal, despite being a a highly skilled player, also has a nose for the net and is not afraid to go to the dirty areas.  Sheldon has produced offense at every level he's played.

Rempal is expected to make his NHL debut at some point this season but may very likely spend the duration of the year in the AHL, making him EHE eligible next season. 

While he is a dynamic offensive talent by nature, Devils GM Cole Bates believes Rempal has the skating, smarts, and work ethic to succeed in a bottom 6 role as well.

Outlook: Top 9 Forward

In conclusion: The New Jersey Devils were very pleased with all 11 of their Draft Day selections.

It`s also safe to say that we will see these players sooner, rather than later.

General Manager Cole Bates stated prior, that he felt the team would get 11 eventual NHL players as a result of this year's draft. 

Now, we wait and see if his vision will come to fruition.