The Devils are currently lacking some high end talent in the prospect pool. However, they did add six forwards in this year's draft and addressed the need to improve that position. The organization does have solid pieces at center, including Pavel Zacha and Michael McLeod, who was drafted in June and has a ton of potential with his size and skating ability. Plus there are two solid goaltenders in Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. Steven Santini is a very physical, steady defenseman. However, on the downside the Devils do not really have many highly talented puck movers.
DEPTH CHART
CENTERS
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WINGERS
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Brandon Gignac |
Nathan Bastian Joseph Anderson Mikhail Maltsev Ben Thomson Jesper Bratt
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Seth Helgeson Yegor Rykov Ryan Rehill Jeremy Davies
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GOALTENDERS
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Ken Appleby Evan Cormier |
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Rising
John Quenneville: Quenneville's point totals regressed in 2014-15 when he scored 47 points in 57 games. However, the past season was very successful for him as he led the entire WHL in playoff goals with 16. Quenneville is a very smart two-way center who competes at both ends of the rink. He also possesses superb offensive instincts. He could eventually end up as a second line player in the NHL and will start his professional career in the AHL with the Albany Devils.
Quenneville scores an outstanding goal at the Memorial Cup:
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Blake Speers: Speers improved tremendously his play off the puck this past season. He has great overall skating ability and lateral agility and he can cause plenty of trouble for the opponents due to his speed and energy. Speers also has an extremely good shot and the smarts that could very well make him an NHLer in the future. He's bound for an even more effective season with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds.
Falling
Artur Gavrus: Gavrus was drafted by the Devils in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He is yet unsigned to an entry-level contract. Gavrus was supposed to play for Sport in the Finnish Liiga in 2015-16 but left the team in preseason for KHL's Dinamo Minsk. He has had some injury problems over the past few seasons and while he's got skill, it's becoming more likely that he won't have a future with the Devils.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Pavel Zacha
7. Miles Wood
8. Blake Speers
9. Nathan Bastian
10. Nick Lappin