The Devils will be selecting anywhere from 28 to 31 (Arizona forfeited its first-round pick due to a rules violation) with their second first-round pick from the NY Islanders in exchange for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac (if the Islanders make the Stanley Cup Final, then the fourth-round pick that the Devils' acquired in the trade will move to a third-round pick). He also has a fantastic shot." THE SECOND FIRST "This is a guy that'll go north-south, east-west, he'll do whatever it takes to take the puck, distribute it and get into the offensive zone and be that playmaker that you want to see. "The ceiling might be the highest for Kent Johnson and what he can bring to the table," said Morreale, who compared Johnson's stride to Chicago's Patrick Kane. Or, Michigan's Kent Johnson could be a wildcard pick. That's a good pick right there," Morreale said. If not, another player could by Edmonton's (Western Hockey League) Dylan Guenther. "If so, maybe the Devils might want to give it a shot." ![]() "I think there's a real good chance that William Eklund drops to No. He's so dangerous inside or out."Īnd Morreale believes the Devils may have a chance to select Eklund, the Swedish winger that played with Devils' top prospect Alexander Holtz (seventh-overall in 2020) in Djurgardens. I don't think he can play center if they asked him to. He's a tough, inside player in addition to being a dynamic skilled type. "William Eklund is absolutely dynamic," Kournianos said. So, if the Devils go against the conventional thinking and select a forward, here are a few that Morreale and Kournianos think would make sense. After all, they also have a need for some offensive finishers as well. Though the Devils certainly need more youth and organizational depth on the blue line, that doesn't predetermine that they'll use the No. He's a power-play quarterback, instant breakout, incredibly high hockey IQ, good size, leadership qualities and I like his enthusiasm. He actually played in Slovakia this year because of the OHL shutdown. "There's a right-handed defenseman named Brandt Clarke out of the OHL in Barrie. "From a need standpoint, I would say they need a right defenseman more than a left. "(The Devils) have a lot of defensemen on the left side from previous drafts," Kournianos said. Though Kournianos has Hughes mocked to New Jersey, he thinks another player would be a better fit with the organizational needs. "My gut instinct, and the player I have the Devils taking right now, is Luke Hughes." ![]() "Knowing what the Devils need, not only positionally but where that player might play at the point, with Luke Hughes, I think you have the best of both worlds," Morreale said. Both men have Luke as New Jersey's choice in their most recent mock drafts. And he has a familiar surname: Luke Hughes, brother of Devils' center and 2019 first-overall pick Jack. Catharine Manset Morreale is a board member for the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.There seems to be a consensus among Morreale and Kournianos on which player the Devils will select once they are on the clock for the fourth-overall pick. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students and children. ![]() 1, at 805.705.4949 or click here to register online. The public is welcome to attend this special event. The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides a public forum for area coaches and athletes, grants financial support to organizations, teams and individuals to further their participation in sports, and publicly honors athletic performance, scholastic achievement and exemplary ethical behavior. The luncheon is fully subsidized through the lead sponsorship provided by Community West Bank with generous support from the Volentine Foundation and from numerous table sponsors, including American Riviera Bank, Business First Bank, Nite Moves, Pacific Western Bank, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, B4T9, the Goleta Lion’s Club, First American Title, Montecito Bank & Trust and Rabobank.
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