17 again: Devils aim to add impact player in 2018 NHL Draft

With the 2018 NHL Draft rapidly approaching, the New Jersey Devils are preparing to make their first round pick, the 17th overall selection, on June 22 in Dallas, TX. While picking 17 is vastly different than selecting first overall (as the club did in 2017 with Nico Hischier), fantastic value has been found in years past and those players have gone on to make significant impacts on their respective NHL teams.

Take a look back at the quality players chosen 17th overall in the NHL Draft and the importance they brought to their lineups, past and present. You may also notice that the Devils have numerous connections to players selected 17th overall…

1980 - Brent Sutter, New York Islanders

Rookie Season: 1981-82: GP 43: 21g, 22a - 43pts

Before he became a New Jersey Devil head coach in 2007, Brent Sutter was drafted by the Islanders 17th overall in the 1980 draft. A member of the legendary Sutter hockey family, the centerman finished his career with 829 points (363 goals, 466 assists) in 1111 regular season games.
After being drafted, Sutter played in the WHL for the Lethbridge Broncos, and received his first taste of NHL action during the 1980-81 season, appearing in three games where he tallied four points (2g-2a). The following season, Sutter split time between Lethbridge and the Islanders, playing in 43 NHL games and became a point-per-game player (21g-22a-43pts), all while accumulating 114 penalty minutes.
Sutter had an 18-year NHL career, where he won two Stanley Cups with the Islanders, was selected to an NHL All-Star team and represented his native Canada to win the Canada Cup on three occasions.
Sutter's post-playing career took him to the coaching realms where he coached the Devils for two seasons, posted a 97-56-11 record and made the playoffs both years. Sutter then moved on to coach the Calgary Flames for three seasons before heading back to the WHL as a head coach in Red Deer.

1986 - *Tom Fitzgerald, New York Islanders

Rookie Season 1988-89: 23 GP: 3G, 5A - 8pts

A name that may be familiar to many New Jersey Devils fans is Tom Fitzgerald. He currently holds the role of Assistant General Manager of the Devils, and the General Manager of their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Devils.
Fitzgerald was drafted 17th overall in the 1986 draft to the New York Islanders. He spent five seasons with the Islanders, as well as time with the Panthers and Avalanche before being named the first captain in Nashville Predators history at the beginning of the 1998-99 NHL season. During his first season in Nashville, Fitzgerald matched a career-high 32 points (13g-19a). Fitzgerald enjoyed a 20-year career in the NHL, playing in 1097 games.

2003 - *Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

Rookie Season 2005-06 81 GP: 14g, 18a - 32 pts

Zach Parise is no stranger to the Devils fan base. He was the last player to be selected at 17th overall by the Devils in the NHL Draft. Parise was quick to become a fan favorite in New Jersey and was a key goal scorer during his seven-year career with the Devils.
During his rookie season, Parise posted a modest 32 points (14g-18a) in 81 games played, but it was in his fourth season that he truly hit his stride. Parise posted a career-year with a whopping 94 points (45g-49a) and did not miss one game the entire season.
The hard working forward was named captain of the Devils in 2011 after spending six years with the club. Over his seven seasons in New Jersey, Parise averaged 18:11 TOI, scored 194 goals and added 216 assists in 502 games played. Parise also had 37 game-winning goals for the Devils, and 76 on the power play.
Parise currently plays for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL's Western Conference where he has played an additional 370 games. To date, Parise has played in 872 NHL registered 685 points (333g-352a) in 872 NHL games.

2005 - Martin Hanzal, Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes

Rookie Season 2007-08: 72 GP: 8g, 27a - 35 pts

Currently a member of the Dallas Stars, where the 2018 NHL Entry Draft will be held, forward Martin Hanzal was drafted 17th overall by the then Phoenix Coyotes. Hanzal had a productive rookie year, where he ranked sixth in scoring on the Coyotes team, and was ranked ninth among NHL rookies in both points and assists.
Hanzal, a 10-year veteran of the NHL has played for Phoenix, Minnesota and currently Dallas and has amassed 666 games played, while scoring 126 goals and 210 assists for 336 points.

2008 - Jake Gardiner, Anaheim Ducks

Rookie Season 2011-12: 75GP: 7g, 23a - 30pts

Although being drafted by Anaheim, Jake Gardiner never played a game for the Ducks and would soon be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before stepping on the NHL ice. He has been with Toronto for the past seven seasons and he has been a staple on the blue line.
The Minneapolis, MN native made an immediate impact in his rookie year and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after posting 30 points in 75 games with Toronto. Gardiner has once lead the Leafs in scoring for a defenseman, with 10 goals and 31 points in the 2013-14 season.
To date, Gardiner has played in 489 NHL games, scoring 42 goals and 173 assists. He has also played in 19 playoff games, registering two goals and eight assists.

2012 - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks

Rookie Season 2013-14: GP 37: 15g, 10a - 25 pts

Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2012, Tomas Hertl has been a very useful player for the Sharks. In his five seasons with the Sharks, the Prague, Czech Republic native has scored 81 goals and 89 assists in 328 games played. A clutch player, Hertl's playoff numbers bode even better, with 27 points (14g-13a) in 43 games and a +7 rating.
Hertl once scored four goals in a single game back on October 8, 2013 in a Sharks 9-2 victory over the New York Rangers. He became the youngest player in the NHL to record a four-goal game (19 years, 330 days old) since the 1987-88 season.
The Devils aim to be the next team to find a prominent player with the 17th overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft. Who do you think the Devils are targeting? Tweet your suggestions to

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