One To Watch: New Jersey Devils

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From the outside looking in, it feels like New Jersey is midway through a era change. New ownership, the eventual end of Martin Brodeur's fantastic career, the NHL retirement of Ilya Kovalchuk... Only Lou Lamoriello seems like the only constant in New Jersey. 

I still don't agree with the team's decision to use the 2012 1st round pick, 29th overall, knowing they had to forfeit a 1st rounder by 2014. It's not hindsight to suggest it was clear the odds were against the Devils ever picking later than that. Plus, it's not like Stefan Matteau is worth more than the pick they will now be forced to give up in 2014 as a result.

I don't get it but perhaps someone will fill me in on why that isn't horrible asset management. 

2012 Choice: Jon Merrill - The defenceman was looking to put 2011-12 behind him but faced a new challenge; injury. Merrill's season didn't begin until January thanks to a cracked vertebrae. Once he got back in action at Michigan he helped stabilize the club which had struggled mightily for most of the year. Merrill finished the year in the AHL with Albany and had 8 points in 12 games. 

My New Jersey choice for One To Watch in 2013-14 is after the jump. 

The Class of 2011 on TPS (Dec - Jan)

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The midway point of the junior season is always exciting because of a major tournament, the CHL trade deadline and the CHL Top Prospect Game. December features the start of the U20 World Junior Championship and so obviously the camps of each nation beforehand as well. The event in Buffalo was the showcase for a few key players available in the draft later this month.

January 10th is the deadline for trades in both the OHL and the WHL and there were some huge moves this year. Plus, the Top Prospects game may have been the turning point for more than one player when it comes to their draft stock.

Here's what we had on the agenda in those two months.

Top 5 Tuesdays: Western Canadians for U18s

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The 2011 World U18 will be held in Dresden Germany beginning on April 9th. As always, that start time means Canada will be severely shorthanded as most of their best players will still be playing in the CHL playoffs. That will also affect some European teams as they may have two or three players overseas in the same situation.

Team USA, however, is hardly affected at all since the vast majority of the team that will head to Germany next month will consist of the U18/U17 program out of Ann Arbor. There may be a player added from outside that mix, perhaps two like last year when Austin Watson (Peterborough, OHL) and Connor Brickley (Des Moines, USHL) were added. It's not a coincidence that USA has had their way at the event over the last several years because of this.

Canada will enter a team made up of players who failed to reach the post season in the CHL or were eliminated quickly in the first round. They will be able to draw from some of Jr.A teams and NCAA clubs too. With the Frozen Four ending ending on April 9th, that may be cutting it too close for the two teams in the Finals but, for the purpose of today's list, let's assume it's not.

We'll also go by the WHL standings as of today - things may change but the team outside of the playoffs and therefore available for Hockey Canada are: Calgary, Regina, Swift Current, Lethbridge, Kamloops and Seattle. Also keeping in mind that players must be born in 1993 or more recently.

Here now are the top 5 players available to Hockey Canada that meet all the above terms and conditions...

Tuesday Night Recap: Landeskog, Gardiner, Cosentino and More

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Tuesday night we welcomed to the show a possible 1st overall pick, a new Toronto Maple Leaf prospect, 3 guys from the WHL's outdoor game and someone involved in the broadcast of the game from Rogers Sportsnet. We also went through some news and notes in the WHL.