The Devils Advocate - NHL 12 Be a GM

[Dynasty]

Draft rankings report:

Hello and welcome fans and readers, for TSN I am hockey insider Bob McKenzie.

I am here today to talk about the top five picks from each category in the upcoming draft, and I have to make note of that these are top 5 picks per positions not the top five picks available overall.

Centre

1) Garrett Hooey - Garrett is a two way centre playing out of the OHL with the Sarnia sting, while Garrett comes in as the number one centre this season this divide between him and the number two centre Scott Simmonds is narrow. He has decent size at 6'1" but only weighs 167 LBS

Strengths: Puck control, Discipline, Balance
Weaknesses: Passing, Aggressiveness, Endurance

2)Scott Simmonds - Simmonds is a two way centre playing out of the OHL with the Belleville Bulls, being a bit heavier then Hooey at 186 LBS and the same height at 6'1" Simmonds produced a satisfactory season while being selected for Canada's under 18 junior team.

Strengths: Wrist shot power, Face-offs, Acceleration
Weaknesses: Deking, Discipline, Endurance

3) Dane Fox - As the divide widens here Fox enters as the number three overall centre available at this years draft, Fox plays a two way game and stands 6'0" weighing 182 LBS, Fox has spent his time in the OHL with the London Knights.

Strengths: Wrist shot accuracy, Body Checking, Strength
Weaknesses: Hand-eye, Shot Blocking, Balance

4) Jean-Francois Leblanc - Leblanc is a power forward that fits the bill standing 6'4" and weighing 193 LB at 19 years old. Leblanc spent his time in the QMJHL with the Val-D'or

Strengths: Offensive Awareness, Aggressiveness, Balance
Weaknesses: Puck Control, Face-offs, Agility

5) Carl-Antoine Delisle - Delisle is ranked at fifth but most believe that is because lack of prospect depth this year. Delisle plays a two way game and stands 6'0" weighing 166 LBS

Strengths: Wrist shot power, Stick Checking, Speed
Weaknesses: Deking, Shot Blocking, Endurance

Left Wing

1) Nail Yakupov - Yakupov comes in not only as the far and away top left wing available but draftee overall. Yakupov is 5'1" and weighs 167 LBS he is a playmaker that spent the season in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting

Strengths: Passing, Defensive Awareness, Endurance
Weaknesses: Hand-eye, Body Checking, Strength

2)Josh Winquist - Winquist is a two way player that rose up the rankings quickly this season with excellent production on both sides of the puck. Standing 5'11" and weighing 174 LBS Winquist spent his time with the Everett Silvertips in the WHL.

Strengths: Wrist shot power, Body Checking, Balance
Weaknesses: Deking, Aggressiveness, Agility

3)Mika Partanen - Partanen is a two way forward that move up and down the rankings this past season, he was a bit of a gamble even though he plays a two way style. Partanen spent this season in the OHL with the Mississauga Ice Dogs.

Strengths: Wrist shot accuracy, Aggressiveness, Agility
Weaknesses: Wrist shot power, Defensive awareness, Balance

4) Jason Cameron - Cameron is one of many two way forwards available this draft year, he has done okay this season but has suffered multiple injuries during the season that may have knocked him down to this ranking. Cameron stands 6'0" and weighs 180 LBS

Strengths: Passing, Stick Checking, Acceleration
Weaknesses: Puck Control, Fighting Skill, Durability

5) Guillaume Naud - Naud is another two way forward available this year, he is in this list due to lack of depth and at best is a second/third round selection. Naud spent this year in the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigers.

Strengths: Puck control, Discipline, Speed
Weaknesses: Deking, Defensive Awareness, Balance

Right Wing

1) Anton Zlobin - Zlobin is the only right wing available that is expected to be drafted in the first two rounds. He is a playmaking winger that spent this year with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. Zlobin stands 6'0" and weighs 189 LBS

Strengths: Slap shot power, Face-offs, Strength
Weaknesses: Hand-eye, Aggressiveness, Endurance

***NOTE: I won’t be ranking other right wings, as the rest are 3rd round and down projected picks***

Defence:

1) Dario Trutmann - Trutmann is a two way defender that plays in the OHL with the Plymouth whalers, the separation between this years 1 and 2 defensemen available is narrow indeed with Trutmann just edging out Langlois. Standing at 6'1" and weighing 189 LBS look for trutmann to go early in this years draft

Strengths: Wrist shot power, Defensive Awareness, Agility
Weaknesses: Offensive awareness, Stick Checking, Strength

2) Mikael Langlois - Langlois was projected to be the top D man available this year but suffered a set back during the under 20 tournament in which he supplied a poor performance for team Canada. Standing 5'9" and weighing 193 LBS Langlois is a two way defender that played for the Baie-comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL.

Strengths: Puck Control, Discipline, Speed
Weaknesses: Deking, Fighting skill, Balance

3) Griffin Reinhart - Reinhart is a two way defender from the Edmonton Oil kings of the WHL. Reinhart held his ground in the standings this year by presenting stability in his on ice efforts, expected to go high in the first round this year Reinhart stands at 6'4" and 202 LBS, while he wasn't known to be a punishing defender he wasn’t afraid to hit either.

Strengths: Slap shot power, Shot blocking, Acceleration
Weaknesses: Passing, Defensive awareness, Strength

4)Jeremy Callahan - Callahan spent his time with the Langnau tigers of the National League, he plays a respectable two way game and shows the offensive ability to contribute, standing 6'0" and weighing 190 LBS Callahan can use his size to close gaps if need be.

Strengths: Offensive Awareness, Body Checking, Durability
Weaknesses: Passing, Shot blocking, Endurance

5)Ben Fanelli - Fanelli is one of multiple two way player types available at this years draft. Standing 6'1" and weighing 181 LBS Fanelli spent this year playing with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

Strengths: Slap shot power, Stick checking, Agility
Weaknesses: Deking, Fighting Skill, Speed

Goalies:

1) Etienne Marcoux - Marcoux spent his time with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, he plays a hybrid style and stands 6'1" weighing 162 LBS. Marcoux is being touted as a top five draft pick this year.

Strengths: Glove low, Puck playing, Vision
Weaknesses: Breakaway, Poke Check, Durability

2) Brendan O'Neill - O'Neill is a hybrid goaltender from the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL, standing 6'4" and weighing 178 LBS O'Neill likes to challenge shooters and takes up a big piece of the net while doing so, he is scouted as a top ten pick.

Strengths: Glove high, Rebound control, Vision
Weaknesses: Stick low, shot recovery, endurance

3) Liam Liston - Liston played for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL this season and produced admirable stats, he plays a hybrid style and stands at a health 6'2" and weighs 205 LBS.

Strengths: Breakaway, Shot recovery, Vision
Weaknesses: stick high, Poke check, speed.

***NOTE only three goalies are projected in the 1st or second rounds.***

***NOTE I assessed strengths and weaknesses by listing the highest/lowest score of each category and if there was a tie I listed the stats the concurred the most with the players style of play***

It is rumoured that New Jersey is looking to fill the gaps in their system, so we can reasonably expect them to look heavily at drafting a goaltender, centre or right winger, but given the depth available in some positions it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Devils to select another position if they feel that is the best player. Since the Devils won the draft lottery and retain the first overall selection all we can do is speculate at whom they will select

Devils draft picks available:
1st round 1st pick
2nd round 1st pick
2nd round 2nd pick
2nd round 23rd pick
4th round 91st pick
5th round 121st pick
6th round 151st pick
7th round 181st pick

Draft day Results

NHL Draft
Pick	Team	Player	Pos	Ht	Wt
1st round 1st overall	New Jersey	Nail Yakupov (PLY 74 B/A/A-)	LW	5'11"	168 LBS
2nd round 31st overall	New Jersey	Mathias Niederberger (BUT 72 B-/B/B)	G	5'10"	159 LBS
2nd round 32nd overall	New Jersey	Austin Smith (HYB 68 B-/B-/B)	G	6'1"	184 LBS
2nd round 53rd overall	New Jersey	Kyle Schmidt (DFD 68 B/B/B)	D	6'0"	203 LBS
4th round 91st overall	New Jersey	Daniel Erlich (PLY 70 C/B-/C)	RW	5'6"	166 LBS
5th round 121st overall	New Jersey	Michael Catenacci (PLY 71 B-/C/B-)	C	5'8"	173 LBS
6th round 151st overall	New Jersey	Brendan Shinnimin (PLY 71 C/C-/C)	C	5'10"	187 LBS
7th round 181st overall	New Jersey	Mark Gazdic (DFD 67 B-/B-/B)	D	6'1"	174 LBS

League movement during the draft

Boston trades:
C Marc Savard and D Steven Kampfer

To San Jose for:
RW Martin Havlat

Calgary trades:
G Mikka Kiprusoff

To Carolina for:
D Thomas Kaberle
G Anton Khudobin

Winnipeg trades:
2012 3rd round pick (WPG)

To Nashville for:
2013 4th round pick (NSH) and 2012 4th round pick (NSH)

[Dynasty]

2012 Retiree's of note

Centres
Matt Cullen 1041 Games played 207 goals 343 assists
Saku Koivu 1020 Games played 237 goals 523 assists
Brendan Morrison 942 Games played 200 goals 401 assists
Mike Modano 1538 Games played 565 goals 818 assists
Kris Draper 1157 Games played 161 goals 203 assists
John Madden 924 Games played 166 goals 189 assists
Vaclav Prospal 978 Games played 227 goals 453 assists
Jason Arnott 1243 Games played 410 goals 513 assists
Michael Nylander 920 Games played 209 goals 470 assits

Right Wing
Mike Greir 1142 Games played 167 goals 229 assists
Todd Bertuzzi 1082 Games played 309 goals 435 assists
J.P. Dumont 900 Games played 223 goals 322 assists
Jaromir Jagr 1355 Games played 660 goals 969 assists
Alex Kovalev 1384 Games played 451 goals 643 assists
Martin St. Louis 939 Games played 321 goals 539 assists

Left Wing
Jason Blake 902 Games played 213 goals 279 assists
Tomas Holmstrom 1034 Games played 242 goals 281 assists
Brian Rolston 1257 Gmaes played 350 goals 430 assists
Ray Whitney 1229 Games played 356 goals 620 assists
Shane Doan 1199 Games played 320 goals 472 assists
Steve Sullivan 960 Games played 274 goals 424 assists

Goalies
Chris Osgood 764 Games played 407 wins 234 losses
Nikolai Khabibulin 798 Games played 345 wins 330 losses
Martin Bordeur 1156 Games played 637 wins 366 losses
Dwayne Roloson 631 Games played 247 wins 280 losses

New Jersey looses both Martin Brodeur and Brian Rolston to retirement.

[HockeyOverLife]

Good luck with your rebuild...I will definitely be following

[LeafsFan31]

Like the amount of detail you have put into this. Looking forward to seeing what you choose to do about the big contracts on the roster.

[johnnyrocks]

I love the big details you put into this, This is why I love your dynasty. Great High quality News!

[Dynasty]

Quote: Originally Posted by bpete07

Can't wait for this......it's gonna be good!

Thanks pete, I appreciate you following.

Quote: Originally Posted by HockeyOverLife

Good luck with your rebuild...I will definitely be following

Thanks hockey, I am excited to see how things go as well.

Quote: Originally Posted by LeafsFan31

Like the amount of detail you have put into this. Looking forward to seeing what you choose to do about the big contracts on the roster.

Thank you Leafs, I am undecided what to do with Kovalchuk at this point in time, I may end up keeping him as I dont think any other team would want his 14 year deal, and hes talented enough to win games for me on his own, depending how the next couple season go will dictate his fate.

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyrocks

I love the big details you put into this, This is why I love your dynasty. Great High quality News!

Thanks a lot John, I appreciate you following and commenting.

[Dynasty]

Into uncharted waters

As Stevens settles into his new role as assistant GM and begins to pour over rosters and scouting reports, video and stat sheets with GM Lamoreillo, the options become clearer and the road ahead begins to take shape.

This is an unfamiliar road to the Devils as an organization and for the younger generation of Devils fans, while the franchise hasn't always been on top, they have spent the better part of the past sixteen years there, whether that was winning Stanley cups or competing in the playoffs, the word rebuild wasn't used here in New Jersey very often.

As the stars of yore began to fade away and left either via free agency or due to retirement the Devils began to decline and have now missed the past two seasons and their brightest star in net Martin Brodeur is now gone, with an empty cage and a bare prospect system the Devils look ahead to free agency to restock their organization with players, and hope what they got can compete, at least for the time being.

While all is not bleak here in New Jersey, current stars do reside here, and are young enough still to make the difference, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise will be looked at not to just carry their share of the load, but to shoulder the team moving forward. Rising talents in last years fourth overall selection Adam Larsson and this years first overall selection Nail Yakupov will be simply required to enter a rebuilding team and help advance them from the NHL basement back into respectability.

The fans attention is fickle here in New Jersey and this team needs to pull a quick 360 if it is to continue to survive.

It wasn't long after the draft had ended that AGM Scott Stevens held a brief media blitz where he details a list of players the Devils released the day before. Stevens was quoted saying that it was time for the organization to trim the fat, regardless of the state of the depth chart and that this was the beginning of that process, and he went on to say that the Devils were in contract negotiations with Zach Parise and that both sides were optimistic about an agreement being quickly reached.

Zach is apart of our future here, he is our captain and he wants to be here, there is no doubt what we need to do to achieve the greatness that was once associated with the Devils, and Zach is a big piece of that.

Stevens also hinted at contracts near to completion with last years 1st round pick Adam Larsson and this years 1st round selection Nail Yakupov.

New Jersey releases:

C Rob Pelley 79 overall 27 years old C/C/C potential
C Adam Mair 79 overall 33 years old C-/C-/C- potential
C Tim Sestito 74 overall 27 years old C/C/C potential
C Stephen Gionta 73 overall 28 years old C/C/C potential
LW Pierre-Luc Lbelond 76 overall 27 years old C/C/C potential
LW Ashton Bernard 69 overall 22 years old D/B-/C potential
D Jay Leach 76 overall 32 years old C/C/C potential
D Matthew Taormina 75 overall 25 years old C/C/C potential
G Jeremy Duchesne 72 overall 25 years old C/C/C potential

new Jersey resigns:
LW Zach Parise (PLY) 28 years old 6M per season 3 year deal 91 overall C/C/C potential, a product of the Devils system Parise was drafted in 2003 by the Devils in the 1st round 17th overall

D Mark Fayne (DFD) 25 years old 1M 1 year deal 81 overall C/C/C potential, a product of the Devils system Fayne was drafted in 2005 in the 5th round 155th overall.

D Mark Fraser (DFD) 25 years old 1M 1 year deal 81 overall C/C/C potential, a product of the Devils system Fraser was drafted in 2005 in the 4th round 84th overall

RW Nick Palmieri (PWF) 23 years old .675M per season 3 year deal 80 overall B-/B-/B- potential, a product of the Devils system Palmieri was drafted in 2007 in the 3rd round 79th overall

D Matthew Corrente (DFD) 24 years old .600M per season 2 year deal 77 overall B-/B-/C potential, a product of the Devils system Corrente was drafted in 2006 in the 1st round 30th overall

RW Vladimir Zharkov (TWF) 24 years old .945M per season 2 year deal 77 overall C/C/C potential, a product of the Devils system Zharkov was drafted in 2006 in the third round 77th overall

D Adam Larsson (TWD) 19 years old .925M per season 3 year deal 77 overall A-/A/A- potential, Larsson was drafted in 2011 in the 1st round 4th overall

LW Nail Yakupov (PLY) 18 years old .925M per season 3 year deal 74 overall B/A/A- potential, Yakupov was drafted in 2012 in the 1st round 1st overall

With Parise, Larsson and Yakupov on board for the next three years at least the Devils can move forward into free agency with a clear picture of what they need the most, and right now that is goaltending.

While there is the chance of an offer sheet being made by the Devils, as the free agent market isn’t expected to be full of goaltending talent the Devils enter this free agency with no goaltenders signed anywhere in their organization, and as such will need to sign at least four goalies to ice both the Albany Devils and the New jersey Devils.

As for the rest of the line up it really depends if recent signees and the future, Adam Larsson and Nail Yakupov can crack the NHL line up, if they can the Devils may only be shopping for support and depth players to assist these young guys in development.

The New Jersey Devils sign free agents:

G Marty Turco (HYB) 37 years old 2M 1 year deal 83 overall C-/D/C- potential

D Pierre Durepos (TWD) 20 years old .600M per season 3 year deal 69 overall A/B-/B potential

G Martin Biron (HYB) 35 years old 2M per season 2 year deal 83 overall C-/C-/C- potential

G Mikko Koskinen (HYB) 24 years old .700M per season 2 year deal 73 overall B-/B-/B- potential

G Thomas McCollum (HYB) 22 years old .700M 1 year deal 73 overall B-/B-/B- potential

D Sheldon Souray (OFD) 36 years old 2.6M 1 year deal 83 overall D/D/C- potential

LW Tomas Tatar (TWF) 21 years old .700M per season 3 year deal 76 overall B/B-/B- potential

RW Michal Repik (TWF) 23 years old .700M per seaosn 2 year deal 76 overall B-/B-/B- potential

RW Viktor Tikhonov (TWF) 24 years old .700M per seaosn2 year deal 75 overall B-/B-/B- potential

LW Oscar Osala (TWF) 24 years old .600M per season 3 year deal 75 overall B-/B-/B- potential

C Robbie Czarnik (PLY) 22 years old .700M per season 2 year deal 73 overall B-/B-/B- potential

RW Jonathan Parker (TWF) 20 years old .600M per season 3 year deal 73 overall B-/B-/B- potential

C Adam Pettersson (PLY) 20 years old .600M per season 3 year deal 73 overall B-/B/B- potential

RW Patrick Naslund (PWF) 20 years old .600M per season 3 year deal 73 overall C/B-/B- potential

C Samuel Pahlsson (GRN) 34 years old 1.6M 1 year deal 83 overall C-/C-/C- potential

C Zenon Konopka (GRN) 31 years old 1.5M 1 year deal 80 overall C-/C/C potential

RW Jordin Tootoo (GRN) 29 years old 1.5M 1 year deal C/C/C potential

LW Shawn Thornton (GRN) 35 years old 1.5M 1 year deal C-/C-/C- potential

[Dynasty]

Hello and welcome fans and readers, for TSN I am hockey insider bob McKenzie.

The New Jersey Devils began their pre season yesterday with GM Lamoriello behind the bench as head coach, while the team has yet to announce who their head coach will be for the up coming season they are content to carry ahead with Lou in this role until an adequate replacement can be found.

GM Lamoriello stated that they have been searching for the proper coach to lead the Devils but it has been a long process and a resolution is expected to be found soon, he also added that he will not proceed as the head coach again this season, the Devils are definitely hiring someone to fill that role.

New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins
Sep 22, 2012 1 2 3 F NJD (0-0-0) 4 0 2 6 PIT (1-0-0) 1 1 1 3 Three Stars Zach Parise 2 goals 2 assists 5 shots Pascal Dupuis 1 goal 1 assist 3 shots +3 Jason Chimera 1 goal 1 assist 3 shots +3	Team Stats Comparison NJD PIT Shots on Goal 28 20 Hits 8 10 Faceoffs Won-Lost 21 8 Penalty Minutes 0 6:00 Power Plays Converted 2 0 Power Play Opportunities 3 0 Time on Attack 6:00 3:01
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD PIT 2:18 K. Letang (1), (J. Staal, P. Dupuis) NJD 7:00 Zach Parise (1), (Henrik Tallinder, Andrew Greene) NJD 12:29 David Clarkson (1), (Sheldon Souray) NJD 15:11 Ilya Kovalchuk (1), (Anton Volchenkov, Mattias Tedenby) NJD 18:12 David Steckel (1), (Evgeny Artyukhin, Mattias Tedenby) SECOND PERIOD PIT 14:48 P. Dupuis (1), (J. Chimera, K. Sauer) THIRD PERIOD PIT 1:30 J. Chimera (3), (J. Staal, A. Montoya) NJD 11:17 Zach Parise (2), (Travis Zajac, Sheldon Souray) NJD 14:19 Travis Zajac (1), (Patrik Elias, Zach Parise)
New Jersey Devils - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Marty Turco 20 17 85% 3.02
New Jersey Devils - Skaters SKATERS TOI G A +/- SOG PIM Zach Parise 15:12 2 2 0 5 0 Sheldon Souray 18:58 0 2 2 0 0 Travis Zajac 16:27 1 1 0 1 0 Andrew Greene 19:34 0 1 -1 1 0 Patrik Elias 15:16 0 1 0 1 0 Ilya Kovalchuk 16:03 1 0 0 4 0 Henrik Tallinder 24:57 0 1 2 1 0 Anton Volchenkov 21:28 0 1 0 1 0 David Steckel 13:35 1 0 2 2 0 David Clarkson 15:53 1 0 1 0 0 Mattias Tedenby 15:48 0 1 1 1 0 Evgeny Artyukhin 14:25 0 1 1 1 0
Pittsburgh Penguins - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA A. Montoya 28 22 79% 6.00
Pittsburgh Penguins - Skaters SKATERS TOI G A +/- SOG PIM J. Staal 17:15 0 2 2 3 2:00 P. Dupuis 18:15 1 1 3 3 0 J. Chimera 18:05 1 1 3 3 0 K. Sauer 19:02 0 1 -2 2 0 K. Letang 22:03 1 0 1 2 0

Usually an NHL franchise will use some of the pre season to take a look at their young players developing in their systems. These games are to give those future players a chance to show off their skills and abilities in a bid if not to make the opening roster for their respective NHL clubs then to showcase why there should be consideration, and excitement about the future.

While Adam Larsson and Nail Yakupov were both on the ice for this game, so was what i expect to be the entire NHL squad this year for the Devils, and I believe they took advantage of a Penguins team unprepared to deal with that.

Scott Stevens on the game:

The future? The future is now, it's today. We need to see what our team can do, and while we do have kids in our system now that we are hopeful to see grow into NHL players we decided to ice the team we will most likely see in regular season action as we need to evaluate them now.

We care about the future, but we need to be in the present here in New Jersey as this is a crucial time for our club and we all know that here in New Jersey.

Well it was a surprising move by Devils management but look for the competition to stiffen up as the pre season rolls on and nears regular season play. I would assume that the decision on Yakupov and Larsson will be made quickly here in Jersey, while I believe the youngsters will be involved in all the pre season games regardless of performance, the feeling around Devils camp is they will be returned to Albany, and juniors in Yakupov's case if they can’t produce convincing pre season performances.

As Pre season rolls on look to us here for more coverage, for TSN I am hockey insider Bob McKenzie.