4 New Jersey Devils Targets at the 2024 NHL Draft

Following Tuesday night’s conclusion of the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, the New Jersey Devils are officially locked in to make the 10th selection in the first round of the upcoming NHL Draft.

The draft order went completely unchanged, something that hasn’t happened since the 2010 NHL Draft. That means the San Jose Sharks have the first crack at — and will likely take — prize prospect forward Macklin Celibrini.

Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald will now have a decision to make. Does he keep the 10th overall selection and draft another young talent? Or, does he address the Devils’ lineup needs — perhaps in goal or on the blue line — and trade the pick?

If the Devils’ GM opts to keep it and draft, the Devils certainly could use a promising forward among their crop of prospects. Especially given the fact that there is no clear-cut No.1 goaltending prospect, and New Jersey is seemingly set with a blue-line future that consists of Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, and newly signed Seamus Casey.

That being said, here’s a look at four players the Devils should target at 10th overall on June 28th.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard – RW

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard seems exactly like the kind of player that Fitzgerald claimed the Devils needed at exit interviews in April.

The Norwegian forward is one of the more well-rounded players in the draft and builds his game on his work ethic and drive.

Skating in 41 games in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvensken league, Brandsegg-Nygard exhibited the ability to score in different facets due to possessing a pro-level shot already.

Scoring touch aside, Brandsegg-Nygard’s high motor is likely what will attract Fitzgerald to the Norwegian forward most, as he’s a workhorse who engages himself in the play, has an all-around skillset, and consistently engages himself physically by staying on pucks and finishing his checks.

Brandsegg-Nygard already boasts a 6-foot-1, 200 lb frame which has already helped him excel at the professional level overseas.

His workhorse mentality and knack for playing the game the right way would certainly help some of the carelessness the Devils displayed in the 2023-24 season.

Cole Eiserman – LW

When Jack Hughes played in the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, he used to tee up forward Cole Caufield for goal after goal after goal.

Well, Cole Eiserman broke Caufield’s NTDP all-time goal-scoring record, scoring 127 goals across two seasons.

It’s easy to imagine Hughes recreating that same magic with the NTDP’s new all-time goal-scoring leader.

Eiserman is the clear-cut truest goal scorer in the entire 2024 draft who knows how to score in a plethora of ways. He can find the back of the net at long, mid, and short range, off the rush, net-front, and via the one-timer.

One of the biggest strengths in his arsenal is the quickness in Eiserman’s hands that allows him to swiftly catch and release pucks and create offense.

Some defensive deficiencies have hurt his draft stock which could see him fall to the Devils should they choose to draft him. Scouting reports show Eiserman could stand to round out his game as someone who can try to do a bit too much with the puck, while also being a little too selfish and careless.

However, turning 18 in the month of August, Eiserman is plenty young enough to be molded into a more defensively responsible player. Further, that’s nothing playing next to captain Nico Hischier can’t fix.

When it’s the Devils’ turn to select and if Eiserman’s name is still on the board, it will be hard to deny drafting a future 40, maybe 50-goal scorer in the NHL.

Cayden Lindstrom – C

The Devils have their 1-2 punch down the middle with Hughes and Hischier. However, after the departure of Michael McLeod, their No.3 center void has yet to be filled.

Cayden Lindstrom is a worthy candidate to not only fill that role in the short-term but could grow into a top six — even top-line center in the future.

Lindstrom already stands tall and firm, boasting NHL size at 6-foot-3, 210 lbs. However, despite the size and power forward label, Lindstrom moves quite well as he is an excellent skater.

Further, he addresses the size and physicality narrative that surrounds the Devils as a forward who finishes his checks, can use his body to protect the puck, and provide a screen on the opposing goaltender.

A minor hand operation and a bit of a back issue at the end of the season saw Lindstrom struggle a bit in the WHL playoffs which could cause him to fall further down the draft board than where his mid-season rank projected him to go.

However, Lindstrom’s ceiling is one of the highest in the entire draft, and the Devils could snag a top-5 talent at No.10 should Lindstrom fall that far.

Konsta Helenius – C

Drafting another undersized center to support Jack Hughes seems risky, but Konsta Helenius had one of the most productive under-18 seasons in Liiga history this year.

In fact, Helenius put himself in similar pre-draft territory as fellow countrymen Patrik Laine, Kaapo Kakko, and Mikhail Granlund. He didn’t quite catch Aleksander Barkov’s status, but he came quite close.

Helenius not only became one of the best players on Jukurit but established himself as one of Liiga’s (Finland’s top professional level) best players following a 14-goal, 36-point season in 51 games and followed that up by scoring at a point-per-game pace in the postseason as a 17-year-old center.

The Finnish center possesses a desirable two-way game, displaying a high hockey IQ with the puck on the end of his stick while also displaying an impressive ability to forecheck, track pucks, and win puck battles with both the body and the stick.

The Devils appear to have struck a diamond in the rough drafting Lenni Hameenaho out of Finland last year. Helenius’ draft value is much higher, but going back to the Finnish well could work out well for New Jersey.

Honorable Mention – Tij Iginla

Following a late-season surge that propelled him up draft boards, it feels unlikely the Calgary Flames will let Tij Iginla slip through their fingertips.

However, if the Flames — who select ninth overall — do pass up on the opportunity to draft Jarome Iginla’s son, the Devils shouldn’t make the same mistake.

Iginla’s best weapon is his goal-scoring ability. However, he also has a high motor, can defend well, and has been known to be difficult to play against.

Iginla is another well-rounded player in the draft that the Devils shouldn’t pass on if he’s available.

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