Hockey Wilderness Community 2011 NHL Mock Draft: New Jersey Devils

With much discussion, and not a great deal of agreement, Florida fans and Wilderness readers came together to put the draft back on track with the "normal" rankings. While the top three went a bit out of order, with defenseman Adam Larsson going to the Cats, the organization has a solid defensive crops locked up for awhile. Just so long as none of them end up being Jay Bouwmeester.

Our Mock Draft so far:

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
3. Florida Panthers: Adam Larsson

Next up is Loophole Lou and the New Jersey Devils. After literally winning the lottery after breaking the spirit of nearly every portion of the CBA he helped negotiate, Lou Lamoriello holds the fourth pick in the draft, despite finishing with the eighth worst record. This all adds up to the only truth I can find. Lou Lamoriello is, in fact, one of the hockey gods. 

Who will Lou take with his lottery pick? Make the jump and you tell us.

First off, let me say this. It's OK to disagree with my pick, OK? Three picks in, and HW has picked exactly who I recommended. While I appreciate being right, this is an exercise to determine who you would pick, not me. There is a reason I am not an NHL GM, nor on track to ever become one. Vote for who you think the Devils should take, not me.

The Devils are in a unique position amongst the top ten. You see, the Devils have a damn good team on their hands. Ilya Kovalchuck, Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise, Jason Arnott, Patrick Elias, Travis Zajac... the list goes on and on. If not for terrible coaching, the Devils would be in the playoffs, and likely would have won the Atlantic division. 

Now, they have a chance to add an amazing talent to the stable of amazing talent. This is a very good thing if you are a Devils fan, as the team is getting old, and will need an infusion of fresh, talented blood in order to regain the glory days of the franchise. The question isn't if the Devils take a forward, defensemen, or goalie. The question is... which forward will they take?

Two centers, two highly talented offensive players. Both need time to grow, and the Devils have all the time in the world to let their cap nightmare play itself. Do they want the 6' 4" Sean Courturier, or the 6'1" Jonathan Huberdeau? Do they want size, or do they want the offensive upside? There is absolutely no wrong choice for the Devils at four. Unless, of course they go off the board and draft a goalie, but that's unlikely.

I have zero inclination as to which player they take, so I am going to leave this one completely up to you.