- Rich Chere of the Record: Devils director of scouting David Conte on if it’s possible the Devils draft someone who can step in and play right away.
“I think you could if you wanted him to. It might not be the best thing,” Conte cautioned. “That decision has to be made at the appropriate time. The plan is to get a guy who we think will be the best player in five years. But do I think some guys can play (right away)? Sure.
“There are some exceptionally gifted guys. It’s not just (Jack) Eichel and (Connor) McDavid, even though they are pretty much generational players. You take those two out and in this year’s draft the third pick is like starting at No. 1 in most years.”
GM Ray Shero.
“If our first-round pick doesn’t play next year, it’s all part of a bigger picture for the organization and what feels best,” Shero said. “But there are plenty of No. 6 picks who have played or haven’t played (the season after they were drafted) and it worked out okay.”
- Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Q&A with Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.
Q: Do you feel like you’ve made any traction on getting a first-round pick?
A: No. This is more about, as the draft goes along, if players fall to a certain area, then possibly we’d make a move at that time. I don’t believe we’ll make one prior to that.Q: What are you looking for style-wise of any forward you draft?
A: The draft isn’t going to fix it immediately. It depends on what players come available. It’s hard to tell. We have guys within the organization, on our team, that with some work in the offseason can change that a little bit, too. We just have to see where this all goes.
- Dave Vest: Coyotes GM Don Maloney: “The idea we’re going to trade #3 pick outright for a player to help us next year, I think that’s remote, but you never know.”
- Dave Vest: Coyotes GM Don Maloney: “We have lots of assets (6 of 1st 81 picks) that we can use to better our team & we’re not against using them in right deal.”
- Brendan Ross: Bob McKenzie saying it’s not a lock that the Coyotes will trade Dylan Strome with the third pick. A forward makes sense, Noah Hanifin and Mitch Marner are still options.
- Brendan Ross: Ducks GM Bob Murray said he’ll do everything he can to move up from No. 27 at the draft.
- Brendan Ross: Bob McKenzie said that NHL scouts gave 55 prospects consideration for the first round round.
