Edited Dec. 24, 2019 at 1:02 p.m.
Quoting: Smitty426
I am assuming the Devs dont win the lottery again. Just managing expectations. Nico is not a bust at all, the problem (which it really is not) is he is next to first overalls like Mcdavid-Matthews. He signed long term for 7 so I am not concerned. And Hughes is supposed to have Kane-like pedigree, but if you look at say the top 5 spots its Laf-Byfield (look at his size, something we don't have) and the next 7 or so are C/Ws. Listen if we end up at 2 and the #1 pick chooses Byfield its a no brainer!
So I think Ray's gotta go BPA and this year its all forwards up top. Maybe the thought is trade off assets to get multiple 1st and get in again???
I see now the lottery part, well i forgot about that LUL, yes
can end up at 3rd or 4th pick... i thought you meant 1st overall selection: you will choose Byfield, which would be crazy to have 3 top tier quality centers on same team, when most teams doesn't even have 2... some doesn't even have 1....
I mean it would be interesting:
1st line C: Hughes
2nd line C:Byfield
3rd line C:Hischier
I would like to think in this case Hughes would be converted to a winger(because of his size), i don't think you need a top tier 3rd line center in today's NHL(too much caphit then to centers).
Maybe in that case Hischier gets traded sooner or later? I think it would be really interesting if u guys would indeed in reality draft Byfield: In my mind unless it's #2 pick or Byfield will go down to #3 or #4, the Devils should always choose any other position , then centers.
It's interesting and this exactly come up this year in tampa, cause this year we had too much centers, so we converted Stamkos to winger... but you see the problem Stamkos,Point,Cirelli = you don't need 3 even in tampa... 1 C plays 1st line the other 2 C's on second line(Stamkos on the wing)...
Anyways, all i'm saying is:
the odds that you could realistically draft Byfield, too much variables need to happen = super unlikely to happen in my opinion... Like teams passing up on Byfield 1# or #2 overall pick and Devils losing in the lottery...
And we didn't talk about the fact, that you guys need a goalie and there is a generational talent in this year's draft... and what about the defense... PK Subban long term solution? No... So you would
really need a defender too to start!!! develop !!! a young top tier defender, cause winning the cup without a really good one(or more: see Parayko+Pietrangelo/Carlson/Doughty/Seabrook-Keith/etc..)
Or do you really want to wait until 2025 to have a meaningful chance at winning the cup = contender status, that's 5+ years in no man's land... and defenders needs lot of years... so you better start now... it's hard to trade for a young and super talented defender...
So lets see:
Lucas Raymond-RW
Jamie Drysdale-D
Yaroslav Askarov-G
So let's just say you guys lose the lottery...(losing in this case means = #3 or lower)
Odds are against you ofc...finishing like 2nd last in
= 26.5% only to pick #1 or #2 = 73.5% that NJD will draft #3 or lower...
So it's obv: #1:Lafr & #2:Byf whatever team is picking, i can't see this changing...
IF #1:NJD drafts Alexis Lafrenière-RW
IF #2:NJD drafts Quinton Byfield-C
IF #3:NJD drafts Lucas Raymond-RW
IF #4:NJD drafts Jamie Drysdale-D
IF #5:NJD drafts Yaroslav Askarov-G
So here is what i explained about positions/needs,(and whether you should throw off the always choose best picks left avaialable tactics at #2)
where i would not draft a center at #2 if other guys are really good...(close to Byfield level)
So my draft for your team:
IF #1:NJD drafts Alexis Lafrenière-RW
IF #2:NJD drafts Lucas Raymond-RW or imo any other guy, but you will probably disagree here...
IF #3:NJD drafts Lucas Raymond-RW
IF #4:NJD drafts Jamie Drysdale-D
IF #5:NJD drafts Yaroslav Askarov-G
So you see Byfield is not even mentioned in my mock draft for you guys. So it will be interesting to see in next june, that what will be your GM's pick
Right now i think you guys will land on #4 pick = Defender? Or if teams passing on Raymond then him
Final prediction for 2020 draft:
with the #4 overall pick drafts Lucas Raymond-RW
Will be fun to check back couple months later on my post sorry if it was too long LUL