Age is just a number. After being selected by the New Jersey Devils with the 162nd pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, 19-year-old Jesper Bratt has put in the hard work to become an NHL player. Bratt caught many by surprise last training camp, turning the heads of the front office, teammates and fans with his personal growth, hockey intellect and impressive shot. The Sweden-native played well enough to earn himself a spot on the Devils opening day lineup and never looked back. Bratt played in 74 games for New Jersey this season, registering 35 points (13g-22a), which was good for fifth-most points among all Devils. Check out some of Jesper Bratt's best work for his first season with the Devils.

1. On the morning of the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, what is your routine like leading up to the evening session? 

[I] probably get a workout in first thing in the morning and then eat with [General Manager] Ray [Shero]. I'll talk to Ray to see if anything is coming around trade-wise. There's always a potential to acquire extra picks, or maybe moving some players or assets. 

This is the finale of a three-part series intended to shine a light on what happens behind closed doors as the New Jersey Devils prepare to make their selections at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22nd and 23rd. The first installment highlighted the importance of the player information department. The second detailed the player interview process at the NHL Scouting Combine. And, this third one explains what happens within the scouting department in the weeks leading up to the draft as they prepare to hear the words, "New Jersey, you're on the clock."
 
The New Jersey Devils gather their entire scouting staff four times a year and it starts and ends with the NHL Draft. 

This is a three-part series intended to shine a light on what happens behind closed doors as the New Jersey Devils prepare to make their selections at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22nd and 23rd. The first installment highlighted the importance of the player information department. This second installment details the player interview process at the NHL Scouting Combine.
 
Although there are still some playoff games happening in the Canadian Hockey League until the Memorial Cup is awarded in late May, the IIHF U18 World Championship in mid-April marks the unofficial end of the scouting season. Soon after the gold medals have been awarded, NHL teams gather their scouting staffs to debate and discuss the draft eligible prospects they've been watching all season as they put their list together for the upcoming NHL Draft. 

"In order to get something, you need to give something." That was the mantra Ray Shero was spreading on Nov. 30, 2017 when the New Jersey Devils acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional third round pick in 2019 or 2020 from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forwards Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi and a third round pick in 2018. In what was defined as a hockey-trade, the Devils were able to plug a top-flight defenseman into the lineup and Vatanen delivered in spades. During his 57 games played for New Jersey, the Finland native collected 28 points (3g-25a) and was a wizard when quarterbacking the Devils power play unit. Check out some of Sami Vatanen's finest work in his first season as a New Jersey Devil. 

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. 

*This is a three-part series intended to shine a light on what happens behind closed doors as the New Jersey Devils prepare to make their selections at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22nd and 23rd. The first installment highlights the importance of the player information department.*

Last summer, Devils general manager Ray Shero assessed the hockey operations department for potential areas of improvement and decided to hire Scott Harris as the manager of player information and video. 

On Memorial Day 2018, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our American freedom. During each of the Devils 41 home games at The Rock, Prudential and the team salutes one of the many Heroes Among Us. Look back at those unforgettable moments in arena as we continue to support all the men and women who have served and are serving in our Armed Forces around the globe.

Glens Falls, NY - The Adirondack Thunder have announced a one-year affiliation agreement with the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils to become the Thunder's NHL and AHL affiliates for the 2018-19 season.

Egor Yakovlev has won a Gagarin Cup as KHL champion, a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Championship and an Olympic gold medal this past February and when his contract with SKA St. Petersburg expired, he decided it was time for a new challenge.