New Jersey Devils: Top 9 forwards worth drafting in 2020

Third Pick Options

Jack Quinn

With the Devils third first-round pick, currently projected as the 17th overall pick, the top fit based on Fitgerald’s preferences would be Jack Quinn. Quinn is 5’11″ and 176 pounds. And guess what? He’s a Canadian born forward! He fits Fitgerald’s prototype quite well with his height and weight, making him a good fit based on that alone.

Playing for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL, Quinn made massive strides recording 52 goals and 37 assists for 89 points in 62 games, which was 40 goals, 17 assists and 57 points more than what he recorded last season. He was a huge riser in the draft for a lot of experts, and is now a consensus 1st-round prospect, with some even placing him inside the top-15.

His massive improvements over a 1 season span give many scouts hope that he possesses high upside, and his versatility (plays all three forward positions) seems to be a key-note for scouting experts, as that gives the team that drafts him flexibility in terms of where they place him in the lineup.

Hendrix LaPierre

The second-best pick for the Devils at 17th overall would be Hendrix LaPierre. LaPierre is another Canadian born forward who stands at 6’0″ and 181 pounds. He fits Fitgerald’s preferences well, thus making him an option at about the midpoint of the first. LaPierre started the year off as one of the top 10 prospects, with Craig Button ranking him second overall.

From that point forward, LaPierre has slipped down draft boards, as he now falls anywhere from 20th to 30th in this class. I currently rank him 25th overall. He’s got the full package offensively, with excellent hands, great passing ability, and a strong shot.

However, the big concern is his health, as he had dealt with three concussions in 2019. However, he displays incredible upside that should excite GMs, and though I don’t necessarily see LaPierre getting drafted this early, the Devils appear to be a good fit for him.

Jacob Perreault

The third-best fit for the Devils with the 17th pick, among forwards, is Jacob Perreault. Once again, a Canadian born player makes the list. Perreault stands at 5’11″, and 198 pounds, placing him in the sweet spot in terms of height, but he is a bit heavy in terms of Fitgerald’s preferences.

Perreault recorded 39 goals and 31 assists for 70 points in 57 games. His biggest strength is his shot, as he possesses one of the best shots in the draft class. However, he is raw in his overall game, and 17th seems a bit early for him. I personally have him as the 19th ranked prospect.

Overall, the Devils have plenty of options to choose from. I doubt they take 3 forwards in the first round with their picks, and my next article will focus on some defensemen that could be options for the Devils.

I’m not a betting man, but if I were, I’d say Jack Quinn or Seth Jarvis will be a New Jersey Devil at the conclusion of the first round of the 2020 NHL draft, as the Devils need more wingers and they can both play on the wings.