Devils Daily: The One With the Draft Day Two Primer

Newark, NJ – Well, Wednesday night was boring for fans of the New Jersey Devils. However, that’s because general manager Tom Fitzgerald was able to kick his feet up and watch the draft unfold as he tied a pretty bow on an incredible body of work leading up to Wednesday afternoon. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt are officially locked in for the next eight seasons and Tyler Toffoli is in the fold. The Devils are already 2024 Stanley Cup favorites. New Jersey actually has draft picks to make today, however, so let’s catch you up with a little primer ahead of day two of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Devils are set to make six selections today. They own the following picks:

• Round 2, pick 58
• Round 4, pick 122
• Round 5, pick 154
• Round 6, pick 164 (from San Jose)
• Round 6, pick 186
• Round 7, pick 218

It’s true that New Jersey has a plethora of first-round talent on their roster. Those names include Jack Hughes, Nico Hischer, and Dawson Mercer, among others. However, they do also have plenty of talent on the roster that has come from the second round and beyond.

Most notable is Bratt who was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, 162nd overall. Other notable draft selections that the Devils made in the second round or beyond are Nathan Bastian (round 2), Akira Schmid (round 5), and Jesper Boqvist (round 2). The Devils also acquired talent found outside of the first round such as Kevin Bahl (round 2), Tyler Toffoli (round 2), Jonas Siegenthaler (round 2), Erik Haula (round 7), Vitek Vanecek (round 2), Ondrej Palat (round 7,) and John Marino (round 6). We’ll see what New Jersey has in store for us today.

Now for some news from yesterday in New Jersey and around the NHL.

Let’s dive in.

New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Hockey Now: Tyler Toffoli wanted to be traded to an organization that would want to extend him. Fitzgerald expressed his desire to do so. The Devils and Toffoli have a mutual interest in a marriage past 2023-24.

More NJHN: It’s Timo Time, again! The Devils and Timo Meier agreed to an eight-year extension worth $70.4 million.

National Hockey Now

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Hockey Now: It’s official. Connor Bedard is a Blackhawk.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins acquired Reilly Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick. Jason Zucker is a pending unrestricted free agent, however, Smith’s arrival doesn’t equal Zucker’s departure.

Boston Bruins

Boston Hockey Now: According to reports, there’s a sense that the possibility of a reunion between the Bruins and Milan Lucic is a strong one.

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Hockey Now: There’s little doubt that the Avs first-round exit was an unexpected disappointment. GM Chris MacFarland is putting his stamp on Colorado’s roster by acquiring Ross Colton and Ryan Johansen.

Florida Panthers

Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers are searching for cap space. As a result, Anthony Duclair’s name has popped up on the rumor mill. Could Florida trade him and his $3 million cap hit?

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Hockey Now: Following a trade that sent Smith to the Penguins, the Golden Knights used the newly available cap space to extend Ivan Barbashev to a five-year contract extension.

Calgary Flames

Calgary Hockey Now: The Flames received Yegor Sharangovich (and a pick) in exchange for Toffoli. GM Craig Conroy inked the newest member of the Flames to a two-year, $6.2 million contract.

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