The New Jersey Devils were awarded the first pick in the 2019 NHL draft Tuesday night as the club's fate was revealed at the lottery in Toronto. The Devils secured the third-best odds (11.5 percent) to land the first overall pick with just 72 points this season and a 31-41-10 record.
It was only two years ago when the Ping-Pong balls came up in favor of New Jersey for the first time in club history. The Devils selected Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in 2017. Hischier was a catalyst for the Devils 2017-18 playoff season and the team is hoping another high draft pick can get them back to the postseason.
Jack Hughes, an American center with the United States National Development Team Program, and Kaapo Kakko, a winger out of Finland, are considered the top picks in the draft this year.
The Colorado Avalanche, using the Ottawa Senators' pick, had the best odds to land the top pick at 18.5 percent. The Los Angeles Kings and Ilya Kovalchuk had a 13.5 percent chance.
The 2019 NHL draft will take place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 21-22. New Jersey will be one of the biggest players on the stage. Ray Shero, who was in attendance in Toronto on Tuesday night, has a number of assets to work with. The Devils have 10 draft picks in this year's draft, including six in the first three rounds. They also have eight draft picks in 2020 and seven in 2021.
This draft class is considered one of the deepest in years with first-round talent projected to go in the second round. The Devils are will almost assuredly improve the team immediately but with so many picks Shero will almost assuredly be doing some wheeling and dealing in the trade market.
Hall was outspoken about the lack of talent on the current New Jersey roster. With only one more year on his contract, the Devils can start working toward an extension this summer, but Hall said he wants to see what the team does to better the club through drafts, trades and free agency.
This is the biggest summer for the Devils since 2012 and all eyes will be on them on the draft room floor in Vancouver.
