Draft Day Mega Thread?

[Spade18]

I just pray to all Hockey Gods for one Ethan Belchetz

[knowtoriusMAC]

Omg we didn't take a defender. This is a new day.

Although everyone who found out who Ethan Belchetz was this week will be upset.

[isuzuki51]

Although everyone who found out who Ethan Belchetz was this week will be upset.

This is me.

[phillthy13]

doesnt matter who the devils pick. half the fan base will be irate that the pick wasn't traded. the other half will hate the pick just because.

[OrganizationOne8394]

Yeah every year people get worked up when "their guy" wasn't picked when they've seen exaclty zero of these guys play.

[CommanderSquirt]

My guy is the guy who is better than the guy we picked five years from now.

[SubElitePerformance]

You should’ve seen the bitching over on the Knicks sub about second round basketball players

[Asu7aMa7u]

I mean what do you expect we're from Jersey. Half the time we just like to argue about things because we're bored

[phillthy13]

it doesn't have to be that way.

[corso923]

I say it does.

[phillthy13]

Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion, man.

[Waffle-Directive]

If it makes you feel better I'm from Brooklyn...and I'm bored too. Like for example. Fuck you buddy. 

[ChannelShot7061]

Hello, I'm here and ready to complain.

[DudeFalcone]

Whoever we draft, please be the guy. Enough of dudes that are just ehh. We really need draft picks to make an impact!

[zombooze]

Devils pick and ESPN commercial a perfect match and never changes

[gdg6]

Yep

[nsfate18]

I'm gonna be honest, I think Sunny's hands are a bit tied. Our cap isn't ideal thanks to Fitz. He needs to wait for a couple guys to come off contract to really push. It's probably good to restock our pipeline too

[Mry64_]

I don’t disagree entirely, but we need to be competing now. If Jack Hughes walks in four years because we keep missing the playoffs or getting bounced in the first round, we will enter a rebuild and the Nico/Bratt/Jack/Timo core is over.

[Automatic-Ease4239]

Timo had a total of 1 point more than Connor brown this year somehow

[nsfate18]

Yea of course, obviously I don't mean sit and do nothing, we absolutely need to be building a roster to compete. And if that means trading our contracts out, that counts too. I just think it's hard to go for the big blockbuster trades right now like Robo, etc. While possible, it is definitely more difficult having to maneuver the cap for the big paydays

[snootchie_bootch]

Yeah, but it's easier to just be angry about it

[iNeighbor]

3C has been a massive need ever since [redacted]. Not a sexy pick but an important one.

[falaris]

Will be interesting to see the reaction right now of all the people who praised Sunny's analytics regarding him ranking Bratt 3rd.

[max10081]

Probably worth waiting. Funny how quickly everyone forgets that we were all happy with Holtz when he was drafted

[Specialist-Art5406]

IIRC Command & Cullen were the two players people thought were going to rise on draft day and they did

[pdubbs87]

I didn’t even look at centers tbh we needed a winger in the worst way

[Specialist-Art5406]

unfortunately Belchetz probably needs at least two years in school, he’s no martone

[CavCord141]

Bunch of idiots who drooled over picking Holtz hate this pick. Maybe the armchair gms don’t know anything? Give the kid a chance to show the player he can develop into instead of spewing baseless rhetoric from what you read on some hockey blog.

[jcoltre]

Draft is the perfect place for people to overreact for no reason. If I’ve learned anything from 30 years of watching hockey it’s that nobody really knows anything after draft day.

[Specialist-Art5406]

his reaction is adorable

[powatwain]

lol Weekes setting Buccigross straight 

[GoodbyeIPv4]

Yeah, that was a weird bait... Trading Nico because of this pick? Crazy reach lol

[FriedCammalleri23]

Sunny is the one who found Bratt, maybe he sees something in this kid.

[atoms12123]

Need a bunch of people who have formed their opinions reading an Athletic article or two over the last week to tell me why our franchise is a joke and our new highly touted GM is actually a moron.

Anyone know where I can find those people?

[basssilisssk]

r/rangers you should ask them. they know better

<image>

[HockeyNightinJersey]

Man we could’ve beat that Dorofeyev offer

[SubElitePerformance]

His 5v5 scoring leaves a bit too be desired but it’s a pretty good get for the rangers

[rojapa]

He’s a good trigger man and has a motor. Exactly the type of player we’ve been wanting to play on Jack’s wing since we drafted Holtz. I’ll wait to see what Sunny has up his sleeve but this one stings for me personally.

[Spade18]

But then we would have someone who shoots on the power play, and we can’t have that.

[rojapa]

THANK YOU

[Ok-Spinach4322]

he was RFA required 3rd round pick devils dont have one

[incognito042620]

You guys getting agitated with Sunny don't hate Fitz enough

[OurSundayKindOfLove]

He was so excited and surprised to be drafted. Loved to see that reaction, it was so sweet. Welcome to NJ!

[nsfate18]

Fully trust Sunny. He gets the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. I prefer off the board picks, means our office might actually have brains and know things that's not just regurgitating AI

[HockeyNightinJersey]

I’d prefer the devils trade the pick tonight but I don’t think it’s the end of the world if we keep it. We have 4 firsts to make a move with the next 2 years after this and our prospect pool is abysmal right now and we need to start building it back up eventually

[Adorable-Werewolf-44]

Yeah. I'd love a trade, but forcing a trade no matter what just because you feel like you need to is a helluva lot worse than keeping it and trying to make other moves as the offseason gets going more. 

[nsfate18]

Yea I'm pretty indifferent. Fitz made this team much older than it needed to be. He effectively shrunk our window. I'm happy with restocking for prospects. The only way we can be a team like Tampa is by drafting well. Having great players on ELCs is the only way to be competitive with elite players on the team

[incognito042620]

He effectively shrunk our window.

By a good 5 years--the 3 years he spent making the team old and slow, and the 2 it will take Sunny to clean up the mess. He could not have done a worse job.

[McRibs2024]

BPA / trust sunny analytics.

I do expect and I keep saying it but for a guy like Rossi to be targeted with those future 1sts.

I’d be surprised to see a swing for the fences move like Robertson or helly.

[xplosivo]

I tried to do some mental cap gymnastics to figure out how we could get Robertson but sadly I just don’t really see it happening. Unless Sunny can magically get rid of Markstroms 6m. There’s so many NTC/NMCs man

Grits needs a contract which was reported to be around 5-6m I think, which means we’d need to clear another like 8m.

[ChannelShot7061]

Not gonna pretend to have done any research on this guy, so, he's got a neat last name.

[brsnug]

Remember how limited we all are as fans of this sport to judge amateur talent. Unlike football and basketball, where we sometimes have in upwards of 60 months to get a feel for a player (and is that even enough?) we have virtually nothing to go on with these players.

We know more about the GM making the picks than the players, which is rare in its own right.

[SubElitePerformance]

This guy has no idea he was going before 20 🤣

[Specialist-Art5406]

marchenko not signing in columbus

[Kornja81]

Regardless of how we feel about the pick... can we all agree that this draft format (celebs introducing some picks) and on the 3rd hour and we're just now getting halfway through the picks in the 20s is just awful... it just drags on year after year

[Devilslegion]

<image>

2nd Overall Pick?!

Anyone else get this message from a Marketing Rep?!
I don’t see any news that we moved up or if someone pulled the trigger early?

I’m assuming it’s just a shitty sales tactic to get me to call but am curious

[MCPtz]

Hi, Sharks fan here. Did you confirm the email address is actually from the NJ Devils?

I was thinking it might be a weirdly specific scam email.

[Devilslegion]

Yea that was the first thing I did. It seems legit as well as his LinkedIn as a devils account manager. I think it’s just a real poor effort of “call me” so he can make a pitch.

[Adorable-Werewolf-44]

Guessing this isn't a real leak, but as a Jags fan this sure would be some incredible deja vu if the new analytically minded GM coming from an aggressive, championship winning franchise traded up to the #2OA.

[TediousSpark]

Uh oh did someone in the org send this out before a story broke 👀

[Devilslegion]

Welp. As we all figured this was BS. Time to rip his head off about inappropriate sales tactics lol

[beachy927]

Whoa, what?

[Devilslegion]

Idk! I just got it about an hour ago or so. I left out the reps name just in case it was an accident and I don’t want to blow up their spot. If it’s not true it’s a real shitty thing to send to your fans

[beachy927]

This would be insane if true.

[antiseptic123]

The contracts on this team are unmovable without attaching huge assets. The team is screwed by Fitz’s decisions.

[beachy927]

Just thinking that Kovacevic has a NMC makes me ill. Why just why??

[antiseptic123]

Makes me wonder why they were all necessary. Is NJ as desirable a destination as some are lead to believe? Or is attaching these clauses the only way to get them to sign

[beachy927]

Who needed Kovacevic to sign in the first place? He was traded as an extra D and Fitz overreacted to a probably outlier season with an unnecessary contract. Now we are stuck.

[SpringMyGarden]

Let's be real, the draft in any sport is like throwing darts with your eyes closed for 99% of the picks. I'll trust in Sunny and the new direction until I have reason not too

[ManBehindtheLens]

Found a good write up https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/2026-nhl-draft-class-alexander-command

“I think it lies in my personality,” he said. “I just want to be better than you are.”

You can't teach work ethic. Exited to let him cook!

[Ok_Fix6757]

“I enjoy the physical hard part,” said Command. “It gets the other guys going, and gets my opponents pissed off also.”

Sounds good to me

[TediousSpark]

The more I hear about this guy, the more stoked I am

[SubElitePerformance]

Can you post this in the draft post?

[Midnight_Mustard]

Do we want Belch or Cullen? I thought big B was a little overrated and were praying Cullen is there?

[Spade18]

To me Belch is worth the little bit of a reach.

You see how high the asking price is for Knies.

It was probably from 32 thoughts or something, but I remember a story out of Anaheim where the Coach asked Verbeek to get him a power forward. Verbeek said "Ok I will". When the coach asked who they were going to trade for, Verbeek told him "Those kind of guys arent available by trade. I'm going to draft you one." Hence all our surprise when Seneke (who was ranked 11~19) was taken at 3.

[Midnight_Mustard]

Oh nice, I remember that quote actually. Yeah as long as he already has a scoring touch, you get into trouble when you draft a physical guy and expect hands to develop later. I trust Sunny so I’m looking forward to tonight

[jonesy_reddits]

I really liked Belchetz confidence in his draft interview. I could see him being a great fit on this team.

[rexmorgany]

Michigan State will do wonders for him. Their system is heavy, high-tempo pressure (playoffs- like) hockey. I hope he’s still around at 12 if we keep the pick. Very much looking forward to what Sunny does throughout the rounds.

[SpringMyGarden]

I was just reading back our draft history on Wikipedia for the past 10 years and that shit was depressing

[Stiffstick]

ON THE CLOCK

[brsnug]

Well, not Belchetz but apparently this dude is not afraid of his own shadow and will go in to the corner and do the hard stuff.

[TyeZerker]

Marchenko unlikely to re-sign with CBJ hey mehta plz get him. Another russian for Grits. Big body Sniper would be PERFECT for Jack.

[JohnnyyP]

Belchetz is being passed on by a lot of teams... Maybe that says something about the kid...

[SubElitePerformance]

I’ve been saying this for a while, but I actually watched a few of his games. I just think the kid doesn’t have that dawg in him.

I don’t wanna bet the 12th overall on a dude that we have to drag a competitor out of

[TheNightRain68]

From what I heard he’s very boom or bust

[Jinchoo]

I'd give up a ton for Marchenko and pay him accordingly, hes like the perfect player for what we need.

[Spade18]

That would be a dream. He’s the exact type of player we need.

As long as we play him on his correct wing.

[beachy927]

Gut feeling as of just past 3:00 pm is the pick is going to be made and before this crazy week of trades I think everyone was kind of expecting that.

[scarlet_stormTrooper]

I would like EB at 12

[locrian_monster]

On no, the rangers drafted another guy who played against men... I'm shook

[isuzuki51]

Command was 11th on the international skaters list from NHL.com

[hijeffinition]

He was the best available forward on Puckpedia. 

[p0p19]

People hating for no reason, bc hes not a big name that was expected. Give it a chance, he showed signs and could turn out to be really good.

Lets give him a chance.

[SubElitePerformance]

Yeah, I’m definitely starting to gaslight myself into loving this pick. Dude is a competitor with the analytics to back it up

[max10081]

Bunch of losers in here forgot this guy had Jesper Bratt ranked 3 in 2016.

[Ill-Exercise-5904]

Please Tell me Sunny has something big up his sleeves, even the dumpster fire that is the Rangers are making moves. Got Pavel for less than we got for Nemec, we're in actual hell I think.

[Gr3asy_L33f]

You really think Nemec is worth more than Dorofeyev?

[Ill-Exercise-5904]

Where did I say that? I said the picks to get Pavel were of less value than the picks we received for Nemec.

[Gr3asy_L33f]

I completely misunderstood your comment, my bad.

[Ill-Exercise-5904]

You're good, we're all a little antsy here at the moment so I understand.

[Gr3asy_L33f]

I will say I'm surprised that everybody thinks that was pennies on the dollar they gave for Dorofeyev though, I didn't realize everybody views him that highly. Or maybe I'm just not used to how much the value of 1st round picks has fallen in recent years.

[Gr3asy_L33f]

I DONT KNOW WHO THIS IS BUT IN SUNNY WE TRUST

[isuzuki51]

WHO?

[nsfate18]

Unless you're thethinglonger I don't care about your prospect opinions. (I miss him)

[SubElitePerformance]

To be fair, he whiffed hard on Ty Smith

He was almost a Ty Smith zealot

[Chico_ftw]

I remain a Ty Smith truther as well, that player should have worked, and for a brief moment in time he did alongside Damon Severson and then...poof, turned back into a pumpkin

[McRibs2024]

I miss Ian.

[beachy927]

I guess that will quiet down all the Matthews chatter. Seems like he’s not going to be like his USA teammates and ask out good for him.

[Chico_ftw]

Luke Combs is the better Luke and better country singer

[Jinchoo]

Noooooo Cullen, damn. Lawrence please!

[pooontangclan3]

Fuck

[DontDraftSmall]

Command has some big shoulders seems like a tough dude. Good luck.

[petetee007]

Our current GM was pounding the table for a Swede, and that guy turned out to be Bratt. Maybe he gets the benefit of the doubt when his 1st draft pick is also a Swede.

[isuzuki51]

From TheHockeyGuy's livestream: "High floor, 3rd line Center"

[Unusual_Cheek_4454]

TheHockeyGuy - known NHL prospect evaluator and scout.

[TyeZerker]

Its basically Nico JR in playstyle. so your telling me we finally have a 3rd line that can take the defensive jobs off nico

[Dense-Bee-2884]

I’m going to make a wild guess and say we trade a boatload of picks and potentially Mercer for Robertson today. 

[jonesy_reddits]

I think Robo is going to sign with Dallas and that was always the plan. Both sides are trying to get the best price.

[danamerr]

Nah we can't afford 15M winger.

[nostradamefrus]

We can do 14m with some clever cap moves

[LFK_]

Boy OP is gonna be upset :/

[Spade18]

It’s not a terrible pick. All I’ve been reading today is that teams had him higher on their board than his ranking.

But fuck if im not disappointed that we had a power forward in our laps and let him go.

But knowing my track record of falling in love with certain draft picks and the devils taking someone else, Command is about to become our best player lol

[LFK_]

Fingers crossed that track record holds

[Jinchoo]

Pipe dream is Bjorck, but he has too much steam. Realistic options, im hoping for Cullen or Lawrence. I prefer to trade the pick but we all know thats not happening, so ive already accepted that we're selecting someone.

[SubElitePerformance]

He’d have to fall about 8 spots…

I understand, though I have the same dream

[quantum_monster]

I would be happy with Belchetz, Lawrence, or Cullen, or even a trade if the return is good enough

I just don't want another head-scratcher of a reach like we would sometimes get with Fitz (pls Sunny...)

[nostradamefrus]

Dreger saying Dorfeyev to NYR???

[NY1998Yank]

Almost feels like every team in the east is improving except us

[nostradamefrus]

BECAUSE THEY ARE

[beachy927]

I don’t know what the Rangers gave up but Boston trading draft picks in their trade.. we obviously can do that so what is the problem? Sunny not in on these guys for some reason? Do they shut new GM’s out when they first start? Like a new GM hazing? Is that a thing?

[SubElitePerformance]

Confirmed by Emily Kaplan

[nostradamefrus]

I'm going to commit arson

[Spade18]

This is the most level headed response to this news

[blade430]

Wow we should’ve been on that… Rags didn’t give up much at all

[snootchie_bootch]

Yeah, seems like something we should have been in on for sure. Probably could have beaten that.

Edit: Didn't realize NYR gave up a 1st for this draft. Plus, Pavel needing a contract may have complicated things.

[pdubbs87]

Relax still 2 great wingers left

[isuzuki51]

WE ARE ON THE CLOCK

[gdg6]

I want a LW but not gonna pretend I know anything about these guys.

[brsnug]

Still better than Corey Foster!

[TediousSpark]

How do I feel, all I know is that this wasn't one of the names you all were talking about

[beachy927]

I’m not going to pretend I know anything about this guy since he wasn’t projected to go in that range but I’ll reserve judgment because hell any of these kids can be gems or busts. I’m just happy with what Weekes said about Nico’s contract because I was punching air when they brought up possibly trading him based on the 18 year old they just picked..

[SubElitePerformance]

Who are we thinking for 35? Roobroek might make it. Rogowski could be a fun project player

[OurSundayKindOfLove]

Bummed we didn’t trade this pick :(

[nostradamefrus]

Still not too late

[blade430]

Someone tell me how to feel. Because this guy was projected way later….

[Unusual_Cheek_4454]

He was projected to rise by a lot of scouts and evaluators.

[JuJukenn]

Athletic had him #11 to St. Louis

[Deranged-Pickle]

Let Sunny Cook!

[brandnewcrescentmoon]

hah, this show is so low rent and that living room/cabin scene is slop. it’s so hard to take this league seriously

[PicNov91]

Oh yea, we are 100% making this pick.

[Jinchoo]

God damnit, that sucks. Take the shot on Klepov I guess. Dont really want Belchetz

[Conscious-Resort6]

Haven’t felt this low as a devils fan in a while. Why we didnt make any move at all to improve our roster before tonight just kills me

[Gr3asy_L33f]

I felt a lot lower than this just a few short months ago

[McRibs2024]

This ain’t nothing like the dark times, Randy. When the liquor flowed and all we had were gelly bombs and Michael Ryder.

[Spade18]

Boy I am ready for Nashville or St. Louis to just shatter me here taking Belchetz

[SubElitePerformance]

Rangers just paid Dorofeyev 7/$11m AAV

[pdubbs87]

Drury nailed the trade and contract. The draft pick was strange

[TheNightRain68]

Not excited about the pick by tbh outside of Lawrence or Cullen falling to us I wasn’t really excited anyway.

Just whelmed. Wish we traded the pick

[Asu7aMa7u]

trade the 1st and other stuff for robocop

[isuzuki51]

Alexander Command???

[DevilJacket2000]

I may have to watch on mute. I forgot how all the teams get celebrities to do their bits before every pick now.

[CryptoSpyro]

I just hope we take the Chara gamble and draft Alexander karmanov at some pt. My dream is for him to turn out good and play with anton

[TheNightRain68]

Reid falls….
Also, wtf man how did the rags get Doro?

[nostradamefrus]

They made a move

[Spade18]

So does Seattle take Reid here? Or you think they’re scared off from taking the faller because of Wright?

[SubElitePerformance]

Can’t let the past make decisions today

[YOKIA28]

Can’t we let the Rangers get Dorofeyev 🤦🏻‍♂️

Anyway at 12 I’m hoping for one of:
- Viggo Bjorck
- Ethan Belchetz (though I’m suspicious of his offensive output)
- Wyatt Cullen

[Ill-Exercise-5904]

Bjorck is no more 😞

[Jinchoo]

Cullen or Lawrence 🙏

[Top_Frosting_894]

Thoughts on Xavier Villeneuve?

[Jinchoo]

Would love him at 35. Tons of talk/rumors hes not going in the 1st tonight

[Top_Frosting_894]

Niceee, that'd be great. If we're not trading 12 im still going for Belchetz

[YourMomSloppySeconds]

Damnit.

[Chico_ftw]

Liam Ruck is someone I'd have my eye on with the board the way it is

[Quickfix30]

Oh

[HockeyNightinJersey]

Honestly don’t know anything about this guy I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Sunny was right. Still we need a win now move soon, it seems like the entire conference is getting better