Devils 2018 NHL Draftee Scouting Report

The Devils left Dallas and the 2018 NHL Draft with six new prospects - three forwards, two defenseman and a goalie - and feel like they got a little bit of everything to add to the pipeline.

Ty Smith - 17th, 1st round - Defenseman

The 5-foot-11, 175 pound defenseman from Saskatchewan is known for his skating - both speed and agility - his ability to process the game quickly and make smart decisions with and without the puck, his offensive contributions and his character.
Smith, 18, represented Hockey Canada the past two years at the U18 World Championship and was captain of the team this past April. Next month, he will attend the annual World Junior Summer Showcase as he looks to make a good impression and earn a spot on Canada's U20 team at the World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria this December.
Last season, he earned 73 points (14 goals, 59 assists) in 69 games on the blueline for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and was the second highest scoring defenseman in the league. Smith has the potential to bring that kind of offense to the NHL, especially with his propensity to jump in, and sometimes even lead, the offensive attack from the defensive zone as well as his shot from the point on the power play. Defensively, his game is very strong. He picks off passes, competes for loose pucks, is smart with his stick and makes good decisions under pressure.
"We thought Ty would have been gone by the time he got to us at 17," said Paul Castron, Devils director of amateur scouting. "We were really excited to be able to get someone of his talent and character with our first round pick. Before the draft, we had talked with a lot of people who've worked with him at Hockey Canada and his junior team in Spokane and everyone just raves about him, not only as a good hockey player, but as a good person and a good teammate too. He just fits our identity with the way we want to play and the culture we want in our locker room."
A tad undersized, there's still room on his frame to add strength to make him even harder to play against in the corners and in front of the net and more explosive on his skates, but in terms of his skillset, he just needs to stay the course and continue to develop.
"There's no urgency to rush him," Castron continued. "We're happy to let him go back to junior and be a dominate player there and learn and grow and come to us when he's ready. I know his mindset is that he's coming to camp in September to make the team and, for us, if it happens, it's a bonus, but he just has to continue to do the things that will make him successful and he'll get to the NHL whether it's this year or not."

Xavier Bernard - 110th, 4th round - Defenseman

The 6-foot-3, 200 pound defenseman from Quebec is known for his skating - speed, agility, pivots, backwards, forwards. The 18-year-old is always moving his feet, even without the puck. He's got a good shot, moves the puck well, often makes the safe play and has been gaining in confidence in his decision making and that's translated into more offensive contributions with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 66 games for Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past year.
Bernard will need to focus on adding size and strength to be able to utilize his large frame more effectively as well as improve his speed on the ice and between the ears. He often choses to make the right play, but will need to think the game faster at the professional level.
"He seems like a very dedicated player and has shown that he wants to be a good player and has made efforts to improve his game," Castron said. "We're excited to watch him continue to develop and help him along the way because he has all the tools to turn into a real good two-way player for us."

Akira Schmid - 136th, 5th round - Goaltender

The 6-foot-4, 165-pound Swiss native has spent the past five years developing in the Swiss junior leagues and made a name for himself representing his country in international tournaments the past year. First, it was a strong showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August, then the World Junior A Challenge in December and then as the third goalie for Team Switzerland at the World Junior Championship two weeks later. He will contend for the starting job for Team Switzerland at this year's WJC in Vancouver and Victoria.
"Just like anyone else in the draft, he's not a finished product, but we see a lot of potential in him and I really liked what I saw," said Scott Clemmensen, Devils goalie scout and development coach. "He's got good tools - good athleticism, a good presence about him in the net, his lateral movements, his hands. He's got a good foundation, needs to get stronger and get more power in his pushes and improve his technique, but he was the number one goalie on our list and we think he's got a lot of potential to do really well."
The Devils anticipate the 18-year-old will come over and play in North America next season, but haven't determined where yet. In previous years, the only option for international goalies to play in North America was in the United States Hockey League, but the Canadian Hockey League (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) has recently lifted its ban on international goalies and many are expected to be selected in their import draft later this week. That doesn't rule out the option of playing in the USHL, but it does provide another opportunity for development.

Yegor Sharangovich - 141st, 5th round - Forward

The 6-foot-2, 196 pound native of Minsk, Belarus just turned 20 and played 47 games for Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League earning four goals and eight assists. Although his numbers aren't flashy, the experience of playing with and against older, bigger, stronger players helped him improve his game just enough to stand out during international competition. He's played the past three years on the Belarus U20 team and the past two at the men's world championship.
"In Buffalo at World Juniors, he showed up and looked like a player that was good enough to make you wonder what he'd looking like playing with [the guys on USA or Canada]," Castron said. "He definitely stood out on their team and was a big part of their power play. They're not a very good team so they get most of their offensive opportunities on special teams and he was a really big part of the success they had there. I'm real interested to see what he can do with better talent around him."
Sharangovich earned three goals and two assists for five points in six games and was a minus-3 in that tournament. Decent numbers that look even better when you consider that his team allowed 28 goals in those six games, all losses.
He's got skill, good offensive instincts, can shoot the puck well, has good size and, since he doesn't have a contract in the KHL, once he signs with the Devils, he would be eligible to be assigned to Binghamton if he doesn't earn a spot in New Jersey out of camp.

Mitchell Hoelscher - 172nd, 6th round - Forward

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound centerman from Ontario didn't start his draft year with a lot of hype, but came on strong in the send half after his team - the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League - made some trades that opened up a spot in the lineup that allowed him to shine a bit more in a top six role.
"We really liked his hockey sense, skill level and work ethic. He's not a real strong kid at this point. He's real light and could fill out his frame a bit more, but he plays well on both sides of the puck, doesn't cheat and competes hard," Castron explained.
"His numbers might not be jumping off the charts, but he's a good player, a smart player and I think he started to be more confident as he was earning more responsibilities and once your confidence starts growing, you start playing better and better and we happened to catch him on a couple good games and he caught our eye. I think he'll be even better next year and we're looking forward to watching him grow over the next couple years."

Eetu Pakkila - 203rd, 7th round - Forward

The 6-foot, 168-pound Finnish winger notched 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points in 48 games for Karpat of Finland's junior league this past year. Fans may notice that he spent time playing with one of New Jersey's draft picks last year, Aarne Talvitie.
"Our European scouts really liked this kid. He's got a really good work ethic and his skill level and speed are what gave him a chance to be a prospect," Castron said of the 18-year-old. "He could put on some weight and get stronger while he takes his game to the next level, but we're excited to get him to New Jersey for development camp and see what he can do."
All six players are expected to be in Newark for development camp in two weeks. The complete roster and details of the annual event will be announced soon.