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Wednesday, June 20, 2001
New Jersey Devils
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First-round picks: No. 24
2000-01 record: 48-19-12-3, 111 points (3rd overall)
What they need
The Devils find themselves in the enviable position of having depth at just about every position. The club could use another netminder to spell starter Martin Brodeur. In addition, the defense corps -- Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko -- is beginning to show its age. Look for New Jersey to draft defense first, offense second.
In their system
New Jersey may have some help coming soon on the blueline in the form of David Hale (22nd overall last year) and 6'4", 235-pound defenseman Mike Commodore (42nd overall in '99). The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Hale finished his freshman season with North Dakota of the WCHA with four goals and five assists in 44 games. Commodore, who was a member of North Dakota's 2000 NCAA championship team, played 41 games with Albany of the American Hockey League last season, registering seven points (two goals, five assists). He also registered five points in 20 games with New Jersey.
Up front, the Devils are hoping right winger Teemu Laine (39th overall last year) can eventually develop into a decent offensive player in the NHL. Laine spent last season playing in Finland. In between the pipes, Ari Ahonen (27th overall in '99) is a player the Devils are watching closely to possibly become Martin Brodeur's understudy.
Recent draft history
New Jersey thinks defense first. Five of their last six first-round choices have been defense-oriented (three defensemen, two goaltenders) and of their last 12 opening-round choices, five have been defensemen and three have been goaltenders. Their lone forward selection over the last six seasons was 2000 Calder Trophy winner Scott Gomez (27th overall in '98).
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