Todd Cordell: The New Jersey Devils should not use a 1st round pick on Yaroslav Askarov

I usually agree with Todd and will have to do so again.

Blackwood was a highly respected prospect when we drafted him and has developed to where he looks like a legit quality NHL starter. We need to deal with Schneider and getting a reliable backup and we need more goaltending prospects. But this team needs so much help on offense and defense we have to worry about that first.

Very blunt and very right. Good write up Todd.

Spot on Todd. I have been off the goalie in the first round for quite a while. Too many other holes to fill and attractive options at the top of this draft. If they choose right, this could be a huge turning point for this franchise.

Very blunt and very right. Good write up Todd.
- drew18

thank you!

Spot on Todd. I have been off the goalie in the first round for quite a while. Too many other holes to fill and attractive options at the top of this draft. If they choose right, this could be a huge turning point for this franchise.
- redmonsters

agreed!

Todd-This is the right take, sir.

Deep thought: Goalies are to the NHL what running backs have become to the NFL.

MARTY>>>>>>>

Won us 3 cups... so you never know .

Definitely do not take home with either top 10 choice but if he makes it to 18 I would think twice.

Most guys in the late teens while project to be good players usually don’t wind up elite. If you can get a potential elite G at that point it would be hard to pass up.

Though I do think that with what Blackwood has done with a terrible team in front of him he can develop into a top 10 G once the devils are back to contending again, so for that reason I would say they should pass and look to address other areas of need.

Personally I have a gut feeling that says the hawks, habs or sabres draft him in the top 10 anyways. While goalies are a crap shoot in the worst draft of the decade vasilvesky was a late first round pick. Many teams will be interested in a G this highly rated

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACK HUGHES!

MARTY>>>>>>>

Won us 3 cups... so you never know .
- thechezman

Yeah, but that was because of our defense and not his ability. (So the naysayers say)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACK HUGHES!



- Queenie_5_hole

Did he reach puberty?

Would anyone here trade our AZ pick for Darnell Nurse straight up? Edm fans on an armchair site suggested it. I dont think it would ever pan out but..
Speaking of teh AZ pick, I would send it, Mcleod and our 2nd from Isles to Tampa for Sergachev, it still not be enough though. Maybe a contract coming back to and tweak. The Van pick for sure with those add ons!

Would anyone here trade our AZ pick for Darnell Nurse straight up? Edm fans on an armchair site suggested it. I dont think it would ever pan out but..
Speaking of teh AZ pick, I would send it, Mcleod and our 2nd from Isles to Tampa for Sergachev, it still not be enough though. Maybe a contract coming back to and tweak. The Van pick for sure with those add ons!
- smitty426

That probably wouldn’t be the best idea, especially if the alternative is to draft one of the forwards there. Even if you were looking at Sanderson in that spot and thought that his ceiling was what nurse is now, you would probably be better off taking Sanderson. Nurse is 25 right now so by the time the devils are ready to compete again you now have a D that’s getting close to 30.

Even then I wouldn’t say that nurse is worth 10th overall, he might not even be worth the Vancouver pick.

If you wanted to move one of those picks for an nhl ready D a guy like sergachev would be ideal, given his age he still has room to get better and grow with the team.

Todd-This is the right take, sir.

Deep thought: Goalies are to the NHL what running backs have become to the NFL.
- Only_A_Ladd

In terms of volatility from season to season, yes. However goalie is probably the most important position in hockey whereas RB is being phased out over time.

Did he reach puberty?
- Crushers68

Clearly.

Didn't you see the video of him asking a girl to show him her tits?

Plus we can pick up Artur Akhtyamov or Vsevolod Skotnikov much later in the rounds

Great article with great stats and logic to back it up. Thanks Todd