Devils' scouts kick ass

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=amber_david&id=3089624

Out of ESPN's top ten overlooked draft prospects-turned-stars, The devs found 3 of them and two helped bring home 2 cups. They're awesome, what else can you say.

Still. How did we manage to miss Zetterberg and Martin St. Louis?

Hopefully we'll one day see the names Greene and Clarkson on a list like that one day.

Still. How did we manage to miss Zetterberg and Martin St. Louis?

I used to see St. Louis play in college at UVM all the time. Decent player, but certainly a late-bloomer. That's why NHL scouts pretty much missed him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=amber_david&id=3089624

Out of ESPN's top ten overlooked draft prospects-turned-stars, The devs found 3 of them and two helped bring home 2 cups. They're awesome, what else can you say.

I dont think I'd give the Devils credit for Steve Sullivan. Sure, they drafted him, but they also gave him away early in his career.

I dont think I'd give the Devils credit for Steve Sullivan. Sure, they drafted him, but they also gave him away early in his career.

But the scouts weren't the ones who traded him away.

But the scouts weren't the ones who traded him away.
And in the end, maybe the trade worked out for us. He's had injury problems recently, especially with his back, he might not return at all.

And in the end, maybe the trade worked out for us. He's had injury problems recently, especially with his back, he might not return at all.

He left 10 years and 546 points ago. The Devils traded him for Doug Gilmour, who was largely a disappointment here (I dont think he even played 100 games). How did this work out for us?

He left 10 years and 546 points ago. The Devils traded him for Doug Gilmour, who was largely a disappointment here (I dont think he even played 100 games). How did this work out for us?

That's a trade you make 100 times out of a 100, no regrets. The Devils made themselves better for a legitimate Stanley Cup run and gave up expendable players. Even with some guys panning out, the Devils make all of those trades over again. Its giving up superstars, getting inferior value in return and having no shot at a Cup that would hurt...

He left 10 years and 546 points ago. The Devils traded him for Doug Gilmour, who was largely a disappointment here (I dont think he even played 100 games). How did this work out for us?

In hindsight, you can argue that was the worse trade Lou ever made. We traded away Steve Sullivan, Alyn McCauley and Jason Smith for him. Definately not worth it.

Especially since Gilmour did nothing for us, and we didn't do anything in the playoffs.

All 3 of those players went on to have pretty good NHL careers.

In hindsight, you can argue that was the worse trade Lou ever made. We traded away Steve Sullivan, Alyn McCauley and Jason Smith for him. Definately not worth it.

Especially since Gilmour did nothing for us, and we didn't do anything in the playoffs.

All 3 of those players went on to have pretty good NHL careers.
I’ll give you that, though I don’t remember being that upset about it at the time. I thought Lemieux for Steve Thomas was worse.

But as for those guys, the only one I’d like now is Smith, because of our D problems. Sully took a while to mature, and he’s had a ton of injury problems. McCauley, I don’t even know what he’s up to now. So I don’t know that those two guys would have definitely helped us. At the time, and with what we have now, I’d say that they’d still be expendable. So maybe more "evening out" than "working out," but I would hope that the Devils' org would do it again. Can't fault them for trying for another Cup.

In hindsight, you can argue that was the worse trade Lou ever made. We traded away Steve Sullivan, Alyn McCauley and Jason Smith for him. Definately not worth it.

Especially since Gilmour did nothing for us, and we didn't do anything in the playoffs.

All 3 of those players went on to have pretty good NHL careers.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote....But you've gotta take these things in context.

The Devils at the Time had an incredibly Deep prospect pool....Elias was there Sykora was just drafted in the first round, Brendan Morrison was in the mix...John Madden was tearing up the AHL to the tune of 98 points in 1998...Colin White was in Albany at that time...Sheldon Souray was breaking into the Devils lineup...The amount of prospects were insane!!!

So the Devils roled the Dice to try and win another championship by acquiring a champion type player--I still think it was worth the Shot.

Whats the one thing in common with all the Devils Cups....They went out and got a Veteran Leadership to help along....

1995 Neal Broten and Shawn Chambers
2000 Alex Mogilny and Bringing Back Claude Lemieux
2003 Joe Nieuwendyk

Sometimes its works sometimes it doesn't but you can't fault management in hindsight for taking a stab at a championship.

I don't disagree with that, but I think trading away Claude Lemieux and then getting Gilmour was definately a mistake. I still say we would have won more cups with Lemieux still around and then used those prospects we traded away now when we really needed them.
Of course I guess nobody ever expected Neidermayer to leave, but we have to have known Stevens had to retire sooner or later.

Just seem like we were caught flatfooted.

the best part of it is we never really have high picks either

I don't disagree with that, but I think trading away Claude Lemieux and then getting Gilmour was definately a mistake. I still say we would have won more cups with Lemieux still around and then used those prospects we traded away now when we really needed them.
Of course I guess nobody ever expected Neidermayer to leave, but we have to have known Stevens had to retire sooner or later.

Just seem like we were caught flatfooted.

Keep in mind on the defensive thing that we got screwed on the Mike Van Ryn pick.