New Jersey Devils notes: On draft plans, trade targets, and Giroux

How might the Devils use their 2nd round picks? Plus, a few forwards who could be of interest in the coming days.

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The NHL draft is just a day away and free agency will quickly follow. Let’s take a closer look at how the New Jersey Devils might attack the busiest portion of the off-season.

Deuces wild

The New Jersey Devils are currently slated to pick twice in the 2nd round, owning picks 50 and 63. I don’t think they are hellbent on using both to add to the prospect pool.

They would like to add to their forward group and are surveying the trade market as a means of doing so.

Be it a top-6 winger or a 3C capable of playing up, they’re looking for a forward who can make a difference. Ideally, one who also has some term left.

I think the most likely scenario is the Devils part with a 2nd in a trade to land a forward and use the other to add a forward prospect.

The Devils are flush with young defensemen in Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, Anton Silayev and Ethan Edwards, among others.

The goaltending pipeline also looks to be in solid shape with Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek, who finished 3rd in the SM-liiga in save percentage among the 20 goaltenders to start 25 games or more.

That’s not to say the Devils are going to ignore those positions. If they feel the best player available is clearly on defense, let’s say, they’ll make the pick.

If all else is equal (or close to it), I expect they’ll draft a forward to infuse some much-needed talent up front.

Golden Knights could be a good trade partner