Devils Prospects
Final New Jersey Devils Seven-Round Mock Draft
NJHNs seven-round mock-draft sees some familiar NHL names taken by the New Jersey Devils.
The NHL Draft is here and the Devils are ready to be on the clock. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald enters the draft armed with the 10th overall pick in the first round, and five picks in rounds two through seven.
The Devils will have the chance to replenish their prospect pool which has graduated most of its top picks in recent years. Before Fitzgerald and his staff make the picks, I’ll try my hand at making the selections in our final New Jersey Devils mock draft.
New Jersey Devils Seven-Round Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 10: Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights
Sam Dickinson is a “run to the podium” player if he makes it to the Devils at 10. Dickinson has been projected to go in the six to eight range, but it’s not hard to imagine him slipping down a few spots to 10. This pick strays away from our final mock draft, but Dickinson is the dream selection in this New Jersey Devils-only mock draft.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-handed defenseman is one of the best skaters in the draft. He boasts terrific four-way mobility, jumpstarts attacks by carrying the puck up the ice in transition, and is a mature defender against the rush and down low in his own zone. Dickinson recorded 70 points in 68 games and played big minutes for the London Knights on their way to a Memorial Cup final.
If the Devils are lucky enough to select Dickinson, then they’ll have completely reshaped their defensive core of the future. Dickinson, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec would create one of the most formidable defensive units in the NHL. With his size/skating combo, there’s a pathway for Dickinson to be a top-pairing defenseman in the league for years to come.
HOLY SMOKES SAM DICKINSON HAS DONE IT. 🚨🚨🚨
THE GAME IS TIED. #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/c5omDqvT6A
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 3, 2024
Round 3, Pick 75: Owen Allard, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
With the first of their two third-round picks, the Devils fill an organizational need at center by taking Soo Greyhound, Owen Allard. Allard is an explosive skater who pushes the pace of play. That, along with his high motor, earned him a spot on Canada’s World Junior team this past year where he recorded three points in five games.
He doesn’t boast elite levels of offense (just 44 points in 55 games last season), but his above-average skating and compete should help him find his way into NHL action. His potential as a two-way center who plays with speed and some jam could excite the Devils, especially as they look for a bottom-six center to replace Michael McLeod.
Owen Allard! Canada takes a 2-0 lead over Finland#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/59nfjw7cys
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023
Round 3, Pick 91: Ilya Nabokov, G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
I’m sticking with this pick from our last Devils-only mock draft. The Devils need a long-term answer in goal, even after acquiring Jacob Markstrom, and what better than nabbing the KHL Rookie of the Year. Nabokov is old for this draft at 21 years old but is coming off of an incredibly productive year in the KHL. The track record for young Russian goalies has been good in recent years, with the Devils having a front-row seat watching two of them dominate within their division.
Nabokov just got done putting up a 2.15 GAA and 0.930 SV% in 43 regular season games. In the playoffs all he did was take his game to an even higher level, registering a 1.82 GAA and 0.942 SV%, leading Metallurg to a Gagarin Cup championship. Nabokov gives the Devils a potential long-term answer in net, and someone to go head-to-head with Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin.
He's got it. Ilya Nabokov's got it.#GagarinCup pic.twitter.com/DIK81bL7aq
— KHL (@khl_eng) April 11, 2024
Round 5, Pick 139: Logan Sawyer, C/LW, Brooks Bandits
Logan Sawyer is a self-proclaimed high-skilled, high-speed forward with a good hockey IQ and a 200-foot game. That checks off just about every box you could ask for in a fifth-round pick. Sawyer has a solid 6-foot-1 frame that he should fill out over time as he matures. When watching a little of Sawyer’s game you can see the skill and speed that he talks about. He makes plays at full speed and the puck jumps off of his stick. Even in limited viewings, you could see how his game could transition to the NHL with a little more maturity.
Sawyer put up 78 points in 59 games with the Brooks Bandits between the AJHL and BCHL and is set to play college hockey at Providence College. The Devils can afford to let Sawyer marinate and mature in college hockey before he turns pro after a few years. If he can fill out his frame and show he can produce against better competition, there is certainly a path as a bottom-six winger in the NHL for Sawyer.
Logan Sawyer (‘06 @BrooksBandits) opened the scoring for Team Canada West this afternoon in their opener.
The @FriarsHockey commit cut Sweden’s lead in half ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/h9t0vtY0Hm
— CJHL (@cjhlhockey) December 10, 2023
Round 5, Pick 153: Nathan Mayes, D, Spokane Chiefs
With their second fifth-round pick the Devils opt for a big, physical, defensive-defenseman in Nathan Mayes. The Spokane Chiefs defender is known for one thing, and one thing only; throwing bone-crushing hits. He overpowers opposing players with his 6-foot-3 frame and catches people with their heads down. He doesn’t bring much of anything on offense (16 points in 68 games), but you’re okay with that as long as he plays with violence.
There isn’t much of a ceiling to Mayes, but if everything breaks right he could develop into a bottom-pairing defender who can penalty kill. His lack of offense limits him a lot, so as long as his defensive game continues to develop he should become a solid AHL/7th defenseman.
🎥NATHAN MAYES – HIGHLIGHT REEL🎥
The muscle is here!💪@spokanechiefs | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/rcaEVZyHyP
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 18, 2024
Round 6, Pick 171: Miroslav Satan Jr., C, Bratislava Jr.
Let’s have a little fun with our final pick in the Devils-only mock draft. The son of former NHL, Miroslav Satan, Satan Jr. is a behemoth of a man at 6-foot-7. This late in the draft the Devils should bank on that size and NHL bloodline to help him make it to some level of pro hockey in North America. From what’s out there, Satan moves decently for someone of his size at such a young age.
Satan just finished with 30 points in 26 games in the Slovakian junior league and will need a lot more time in Europe to develop his game. It may take four or five years, but if he continues to climb up the ladder in European hockey then maybe he’ll have a chance to come to North America and play. He’s a long shot, but a fun pick with good NHL heritage and a monster frame.
🇸🇰 Miroslav Šatan Jr. (F, 2006) scores U17NT's first goal against USA and makes it 1:2. 🇺🇸
The 6'6" center has been in-form recently in the U17 league and even after his promotion to the U20's for Slovan Bratislava. #HockeySlovakia pic.twitter.com/5xcLYFMiJH
— Slovak Prospects (@SlovakJrHockey) December 16, 2022
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