Introduction
On April 9th, 2021, the New Jersey Devils traded forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. They both went to the Islanders for a package that included New York’s first round pick. Now that the playoffs are over, we know that the first round pick will be the 29th selection. Technically, the player picked will be the 28th taken. This is due to the Coyotes being forced to forfeit their first round pick. However, let’s refer to it as the 29th selection.
In this scenario, let’s assume that New Jersey takes a defenseman with the fourth pick, so let’s looks at some forwards. This is also due to the fact that there aren’t a ton of defenseman projected to go in this area. With all that being said, let’s begin.
The Prospects Who “Might Be There”
The below are several intriguing prospects, who in all likelihood will not be available to New Jersey. But, if were to falls through the cracks would be stellar picks.
Logan Stankoven
Center/Right Winger
Kamloops Blazers, WHL
First off is Logan Stankoven. Even with his smaller frame, Logan isn’t afraid to drive to the front of the net and make things happen. He jumped up on a lot of scouts’ boards following an impressive performance at the under-18s where he potted eight points in seven games en route to a Canadian gold medal.
Nikita Chibrikov
Left Winger/Right Winger
SKA St. Petersburg, KHL
Nikita Chibrikov has some of the most pure skill and talent in this upcoming draft. He has the ability to make perfect passes, slice through defenders, and roof backhanders with ease. Nikita has a smaller frame, but that has allowed for him to develop into an amazing skater with top tier edgework. He isn’t very great in his own end, but that seems to be the case for most young wingers now-a-days.
If he was from any other country he’d be a lock for the top-10 or even the top-five. However, he’s from Russia, which may scare a lot of old school scouts and general managers from picking him in fear of him not ever coming over. He could fall to New Jersey, but there are a lot of smart front offices picking ahead of the team’ second pick who would probably not pass up on that much talent. Especially with a pick in the 20’s.
Zachary Bolduc
Center
Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL
Bolduc proved this year that he could produce, even without Alexis Lafreniere. He’s an incredibly skilled center that can dangle past defenders and whip shots past goalies. He isn’t the most consistent, but he’s an agile skater and can transition the puck up the ice well.
Bolduc has played center for a long time, but his elite skill would make it easy for the Devils to transition him to wing.
The Prospects Who “Will Probably Be There”
Zachary L’Heureux
Center
Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL
L’Heureux is a hard-checking forward who put up solid offensive numbers during his second season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He doesn’t exactly thrive in one specific area besides aggressiveness and checking, but he’s solid all around.
Zachary currently plays center, but could be easily transitioned into a winger who can score and get under other players’ skins. Similarly to a certain player who clashed with the New York Rangers last season.
Simon Robertsson
Right Winger
Skelleftea AIK, SHL
Out of the three players in this section, Robertsson is the one that’s the least likely to be available. However, there is still a slight chance he will, and that’s a good thing.
While Robertsson’s base stats may not pop out to you, he’s a darn good winger with a shooter’s mentality and the wicked release to go along with it. He knows how to get into the scoring areas and uses his large frame effectively to do so.
His decision-making could use some improvement, especially in his own end. But, Robertsson has the upside to become a consistent top-six, first-team power play, goal-scoring winger in the NHL. Someone who could pot 25-30 or even 40 every year if you place him next to a Jack Hughes.
Sasha Pastujov
Left Winger
United States National Team Development Program
Pastujov is another high-end offensive talent that is projected to go in the latter half of the first round. He’s good at making subtle offensive plays along the board or up the ice to push play. And once he’s in the offensive zone, Pastujov is elite at creating chances for both himself and his teammates.
Sasha is incredibly smart as well and uses that along with his skill and creativity to his advantage. Along with all of this, he has one of the best shots in the draft and is another player that could light it up next to Hughes or Nico Hischier.
Defensively, Pastujov is solid as well. He isn’t super physical, but is smart about his positioning and is good at stealing and intercepting the puck to move the play up ice the other way. He’s committed to the University of Notre Dame next season which should give him plenty of time to continue to develop some of his weaknesses such as his speed. If he’s available Pastujov would definitely be my pick for the Devils to take at 29.
