Devils tab Mercer and Mukhamadullin

 The New Jersey Devils completed their first round haul with the selections of Dawson Mercer at 18 and Shakir Mukhamadullin with the 20th pick.

Dawson Mercer turns 19 before the end of the month and was announced as a right winger, but some see him as a center with the versatility to play either forward position.

Mercer spent last season with both Drummondville and Chicoutimi in the Quebec junior league, scoring 24 goals with 36 assists in 42 games combined between the two teams.

Mercer is reported to have an active offensive game that never stops moving, and the biggest rap on him appears to be his skating, which isn't a strong suit.

However, Mercer isn't a Clydesdale either as a skater and sometimes when skating ability is scouted, the elite young skaters can tend to drop everyone else a notch or a half in evaluating, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Mercer is projected to be a second-line scorer with the possibility of a first-line right wing on some teams

It appears that most of the draft gurus had Mercer rated in the 15-23 range, so the Devils didn't reach for Mercer and the guys at All About the Jersey seem to be pleased with the selection.

The Devils made their final first rounder two picks after Dawson Mercer and it was a bit of a polarizing selection in Russian defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Mukhamadullin is currently playing in the KHL at 18, although that is somewhat related to Covid-19 problems in the KHL, and at 6'4 with a big shot, Mukhamadullin seems to be loaded with potential.

However, some believe that Mukhamadullin is very raw and in twenty-seven KHL games in 2019-20, posted only one assist, although he was extremely young at 17 and likely didn't receive a lot of prime minutes.

However, thus far in the new KHL season, Mukhamadullin is reportedly starring among the much older competition and showing the possibilities that his game could eventually provide.

This seems to sum the opinions on 

Mukhamadullin- some look at the size and shot and see a player that has the potential to be a top pairing defenseman that can play the point on the power play.

Others saw a player that struggles to move the puck, makes questionable decisions and some had him rated as low as a third round prospect.

All about the Jersey discusses the upside with Mukhamadullin and the risks involved as well.

While I'm not knowledgable about Mukhamadullin, he does seem to be the type of player that teams with multiple first rounders are more willing to gamble on than those that have just one shot.

I suppose the Devils had a few safer avenues if they chose to do so.

And you could make a case that Tom Fitzgerald may have felt that after selecting two forwards that he needed to come away with a defenseman with that final pick, but you have to give him credit for picking a player that comes with risks, but has star potential.

Devils select Alexander Holtz

  The New Jersey Devils with the first of their three first-rounders in the 2020 NHL draft selected Swedish right-winger Alexander Holtz with the seventh selection of the first round.

At 18, the six-foot even, 185 pound Holtz was regarded by many as the best pure goal scorer in the draft, and playing in the Swedish Hockey League (Sweden's top league) against adult players, Holtz shouldn't be intimidated by the NHL.

Holtz finished the 2019-20 season with nine goals and seven assists in thirty-five games for Djurgardens and has received raves for his quick and accurate shot.

Holtz seems to be a fit at the Devils' greatest position of need as New Jersey sees Holtz as an eventual first-line winger.

The Devils hadn't selected a wing in the first round since Mattias Tedenby in 2008 and hadn't selected a right-wing going back to 2005 with the addition of Nicklas Bergfors.

Holtz was one of three players that draft observers had connected to New Jersey with the other two players going shortly after Holtz with centers Marco Rossi going ninth overall to Minnesota and Cole Perfetti taken at tenth to Winnipeg.

I never claim to be as knowledgable about the NHL draft as I am with the NFL and NBA drafts, but Holtz seems to be the Devils first step in surrounding Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier with shooters to allow their young centers to have players that can finish around them.

The Devils lack that type of player and Holtz is a good addition with the type of shot that playing with Jack Hughes could be a forty goal player eventually.

I liked what I've seen of both Rossi and Perfetti, but this time with three pretty equal players, the position need, combined with the ability to bring more out of what you consider to be your franchise foundation player in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, I am understanding of how the Devils are thinking here under new general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Corey Pronman, who covers the NHL Draft for the Athletic writes this report on Holtz, and All About the Jersey offers their thoughts here.

The Devils own the 18th and 20th picks in the round from Arizona and Vancouver and I'll be back later or tomorrow with the picks in those slots.