New Jersey Devils: Top 9 forwards worth drafting in 2020
By Kyle Pereira
Second Pick Options
Seth Jarvis
With their second pick, acquired from the Coyotes and is currently projected to be the 10th overall pick, the top fit, based on Fitgerald’s preferences, is Seth Jarvis. Jarvis is 5’10″ and 172 pounds, and was born in Winnipeg. All of that makes him a Devils prototype.
There are lots of people who are high on Jarvis, giving him a top 10 spot in their rankings. Meanwhile, others like ISS Hockey (who ranks him 29th) have him as a late-first and potential second-round pick. Jarvis posted 42 goals and 56 assists for 98 points in just 58 games with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL.
In just about every report on Jarvis rave about his IQ and how he executes just about everything you can think of at a fast pace thanks to his awareness. He can easily be scooped up at 10th overall and still be an excellent pick.
Connor Zary
The second best fit for the Devils at the 10th overall pick is Connor Zary. Once again, there’s a Canadian forward for the Devils that fit the bill physically. While Zary lands on the taller end of the spectrum, standing at 6’0″, he fits almost perfectly in terms of weight, as he finds himself at 181 pounds.
Zary recorded 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points in 57 games played. Zary, like Jarvis, has been looked at as a top 10 prospect in some cases, as well as a late first-round prospect by others. However, he’s thought of as a top 15 prospect in most cases, giving him a slightly better chance to go sooner than Jarvis. One of the main talking points for prospects has been about Zary’s two-way abilities, as he plays on both the power play and penalty kill.
Dawson Mercer
The third best fit for the Devils with the 10th pick, among forwards, is Dawson Mercer. Once again, a Canadian-born player makes the list. Mercer stands at 6’0″ and 179 pounds, placing him in the sweet spot in terms of height and a tiny bit light in terms of weight.
Mercer recorded 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 42 games split between the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Chicoutimi Sagueneens. He has excellent hockey IQ and is one of the better two-way forwards in this draft, as he plays on the powerplay and penalty-killing units.
He has dealt with injuries, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of medical professionals to check on him for respective NHL clubs, his stock may fall a bit. However, he is a top 15 talent and taking him at 10th overall wouldn’t be considered a reach or a risk.