Looking Back at the 2020 Draft | FEATURE

There were a lot of questions surrounding the 2020 NHL Draft, the World was amid a pandemic and there were a lot of logistics to be worked out. There was no way this draft would be held like normal ones, unable to all gather for the moment in an arena. Instead, the 2020 NHL Draft was the first to be held virtually, and in October, instead of the usual June/July draft.

Players hoping to be drafted, NHL teams and the commissioner were all logged into a videoconference, for the league's first-ever virtual draft.

And the Devils were particularly busy in the first round with three picks. Overall, the Devils made eight picks over the course of the two days and amongst the group are some pretty prominent players, one who is already a staple in the Devils lineup.

Let's have a look!

1 st Round, 7 th overall - Alexander Holtz, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

The first of three first-round picks for New Jersey was the highly skilled Alexander Holtz. Holtz was touted as the player with one of the best shots in the 2020 draft and was projected as a first-round pick.

Holtz, like many 2020 picks, had an unusual start to his professional career in North America. After completing his 2020-21 season in the SHL he signed his Entry-Level Contract with the Devils in April 2021 as well as an amateur try-out with the AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, who were playing in New Jersey at the time due to the pandemic.

For the 2021-22 season, Holtz made the full move to North America where he was assigned to Utica after the completion of the Devils training camp and finished with 26 goals in 51 games.

The 21-year-old made his NHL debut on Nov. 5 visiting the LA Kings. He played in nine games his first year, bouncing between the Devils and the Comets, and last season he had a run of 19 games with New Jersey, scoring his first NHL goal - the first goal of the season for the club - in the season opener against Philadelphia.

Holtz remains one of the Devils' top prospects and continues to work on his craft and particularly his pace of play as he drives to be a consistent member of the Devils lineup.

1st Round, 18 th overall - Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

This pick was an absolute homerun for the Devils. Dawson Mercer, from the moment he made his NHL debut at the start of the 2021-22 season has been an impactful player. Mercer has yet to miss a game in his two-year career, breaking a club record. On Feb 25, Mercer played in his 141st consecutive game since his rookie debut to pass Scott Gomez for most consecutive games to start a career with the New Jersey Devils.

In 164 regular season games, Mercer has amassed 98 points (44g, 54a) and has been a player used up and down the lineup since Day 1. His 2022-23 point total (56) left Mercer in the top five in points for the club and his 27 goals ranked fourth. In his first post-season, he played in all 12 games, registering 7 points (3g, 4a)

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1st round, 20th overall -Shakir Mukhamadullin, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

Mukhamadullin was the lesser-known of the three first-rounders for New Jersey. A 6'4 defenseman was playing in Russia and was noted for his skating for such a big man. He was a player that was more of a 'project', waiting for his development in Russia before coming over to North America.

He played a big role in the KHL, where you don't usually see young defensemen get big opportunities on their teams. Mukhamadullin was a prospect that the club - and fans alike - were excited to see. But when Mukhamadullin makes his NHL debut, it won't be with the New Jersey Devils as he was the top-end prospect that was part of the package deal traded to San Jose in order to acquire Timo Meier.

3 rd Round, 84 th overall - Nico Daws, Guelph (OHL)

Daws in yet another member of the Devils 2020 class that has already made their NHL debut. For Daws, it came in a tumultuous Devils season, where the club used a team-record seven goaltenders.

He stepped in, to play 25 games as a rookie for New Jersey, relatively unexpectedly. He started 23 of the 25 games and ended the season with a 10-11-1 record. He spent the 2021-22 season playing in both the NHL and AHL, helping guide the Comets as one of the top teams in the AHL.

In his first year with the Comets he boasted a 14-4-2-1 record in 21 games played. But as can be the case, the development of a young player can be up and down. This past season Daws carried much of the load in Utica with Akira Schmid, his regular goaltending partner, spending much of the season in the NHL. Daws posted a 16-14-3-2 record in 33 games played.

4th round, 99th overall - Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Pytlik was drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League but has since returned to play in Europe, most recently in his native Czechia with the Kladno Knights and is not currently under contract with the Devils.

4 th Round, 120 th overall - Ethan Edwards, Spruce Grove (AJHL)

Ethan Edwards is a defenseman who has spent the last few seasons playing at Michigan with several other Devils prospects. He was a teammate of Luke Hughes', and later Seamus Casey, who joined both Michigan and the Devils organization in 2022. In his sophomore season with Michigan, he lead the team with 54 blocked shots and was named to the B1G All-Academic Team.

Edwards, who attended last year's Development Camp has a bright personality that has endeared himself to the Devils fanbase. He's on the smaller side at 5'11 but is feisty.

"Whenever they need a big hit, a stop, he seems to make it," Devils Development Coach Eric Weinrich has said. "It's one thing to (bring) the offensive game but he is really good back there in his own end."

Edwards has yet to sign his first professional contract with the club as he plays out his collegiate years.

5th Round, 130th overall - Artem Shlaine, Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-Prep)

After Schlaine was drafted by the Devils he began his collegiate career with the UConn Huskies, where his offensive numbers struggled. The Russian center scored just eight goals over the course of two seasons, before entering the Transfer Portal to change schools.

Moving to Northern Michigan University this past season, Shlaine has seen his offensive numbers on the rise. In his first year with the Huskies, he scored 11 goals and 21 assists in 38 games.

Playing in the NCAA, Schlaine has not yet signed a professional contract.

6 th Round, 161 st overall - Benjamin Baumgartner, HC David (Swiss National League)

Not all sixth-round picks will work out the way it did for Jesper Bratt, in fact, most don't. Unfortunately for Baumgartner, that has been the case and he is no longer part of the Devils organization.