"So while in that day you're feeling good about the assets you accumulated, but what you don't know is they just got a franchise player. It really comes down to personal preference. But I'm sure the team that traded down five years later would love to have Corey Perry. That's the judgment at the draft."
At the 2015 draft, Shero's first with the Devils, forward Pavel Zacha was selected at No. 6. In eight drafts as GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2006-13), Shero took a number of defensemen early, including four of seven first-round picks. But Shero said that was more a reflection of which players were available when the Penguins were picking, not a strategy.
"We took [defensemen] or forwards," Shero said. "Whether it was that year, 2012, was real strong in defensemen (the Penguins drafted Derrick Pouliot and Olli Maatta in the first round). I think you're always looking for the best player. What we were able to do by having strength on defense the way it fell, we were able to trade a Ryan Whitney for Chris Kunitz, or trade [Alex] Goligoski for [Matt] Niskanen and [James] Neal. … Even last year, we were at six, everybody's saying Jersey needs forwards.
"Let's say [defenseman] Noah Hanifin was there. We really liked Noah Hanifin. He's a heck of a player for Carolina. I'm happy we got Zacha, I know Carolina is happy they got Hanifin. You have to make a decision not so much on we need this, we need that. You need to really take the best player."