Devils 2011 Top Prospects

My boy JWM alerted me to the following list, taken from Hockey's Future. It's never too early to get excited at the next wave of red and black.

1. (NR) Adam Larsson, D, 9.0C
Drafted 1st round, 4th overall, 2011

Larsson not surprisingly makes his debut at the top of the list after being selected by the Devils in the first round this past summer, giving the organization by far and away its most talented prospect since Zach Parise was drafted in 2003. Larsson just completed his second full season in the Swedish Elite League with Skelleftea, logging major minutes in all situations and contributing at both ends of the rink. He had a goal and eight assists in 37 games and was also a force for Team Sweden at the U-20 World Junior Championship recording four points in six games.

Simply put, there aren't many weaknesses in Larsson's game at all. He is a calm and poised workhorse who excels at both ends of the rink. Playing against men in the SEL for the past two seasons will undoubtedly help him adjust quickly to the NHL game, something that will happen sooner rather than later. He is already signed, sealed, and delivered and will compete for a roster spot in New Jersey this fall. For a team that has lacked an impact top pairing defenseman since the days of Scott Niedermayer and Scott Stevens, Larsson is exactly what the doctor ordered.

2. (1) Jon Merrill, D, 8.0C
Drafted 2nd round, 38th overall, 2010

If not for Larsson, Merrill would have likely been the top dog again amongst the Devils prospects. He had a fantastic freshman year at the University of Michigan, picking things up very quickly and put up tremendous numbers along with receiving numerous accolades and award nominations at the end of the season. Merrill played on the top pairing, recording seven goals and 18 assists in 42 games and also stood out for the American entry at the U-20 World Junior Championship, earning a bronze medal while putting up five points in six games.

The Devils appear to have pulled off a major heist by getting Merrill in the second round of the 2010 draft. He has a sensational package of skills, great size, and showed the ability to quarterback the Wolverines powerplay with relative ease. With a glaring lack of puck-moving defenseman on the roster right now, the temptation to turn Merrill pro might have crossed the Devils mind. However the right choice was to keep him at the University of Michigan for at least one more season, with an eye towards possibly turning pro in 2012-13.

3. (3) Jacob Josefson, C, 7.5B
Drafted 1st round, 20th overall, 2009

Josefson's fine showing to close the last quarter of the NHL regular season kept him at his previous ranking. A thumb injury took him out of action for a couple of months early in the season, but after a brief stint in the AHL he was re-called to New Jersey. Then-Head Coach Jacques Lemaire quickly took a liking to the cerebral Swedish pivot and used him as a lineup regular down the stretch. In 28 NHL games, he recorded three goals and seven assists.

Playing with composure beyond his years, Josefson looks poised to take the next step in his development as a full time NHLer with New Jersey this season. More or less locked into the top-nine, the sublimely skilled two-way center will eventually settle into a top-six role in the future. The team actually now might get a glimpse of what Josefson can do in the top six earlier than they expected with the recent off-season injury suffered by Travis Zajac that will sideline him for at least the first month and half of the season.

4. (2) Mattias Tedenby, LW, 8.0C
Drafted 1st round, 25th overall, 2008

The fact the prospect with arguably the most natural skill of all the Devils prospects dropped two spots in the rankings is just one example of how much the overall talent pool of the organization has improved. Tedenby initially had trouble cracking the lineup on a regular basis after Lemaire took over for the fired John MacLean, but by the end of the year he had earned the trust of Lemaire and showed great improvement in his play away from the puck. In 58 NHL games, Tedenby scored eight goals and 14 assists and finished the year playing for the Swedish National Team at the World Championships where he put up a goal and two assists in a dozen games.

Tedenby was given significant minutes by MacLean, but he had to earn his ice-time under Lemaire, which in the long run is going to benefit him significantly. Quick, flashy and oozing high-end skill, Tedenby needs to play with players that can compliment his dynamic offensive ability. Just like his fellow countryman Josefson, Tedenby slots into the top-nine this season, but it likely won't be long until he's playing in the top-six. With Ilya Kovalchuk and potentially Zach Parise ahead of him long-term at left-wing though, Tedenby's future may lie at right-wing.

5. (4) Alexander Urbom, D, 7.5C
Drafted 3rd round, 73rd overall, 2009

In another organization, it's quite possible that Urbom would be at the top of the defense prospect chain. He was once the top rated defender in the Devils organization, but the addition of Merrill in 2010 and now Larsson has relegated him to the third best blueliner, but still in the top five overall. Urbom started the year in New Jersey, but spent the majority of the season playing big minutes and honing his overall skills in the AHL with Albany. He led all Albany defenseman in scoring with 23 points in 72 games.

Perhaps expectations where a little too high for Urbom coming into the season, but it was a good year of development for the towering Swedish defenseman in the AHL. There doesn't appear to be much room for him at the NHL level this year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. He is physically ready for the NHL and has a good offensive bent to his game, but he is still a little raw defensively. Another year in the AHL definitely won't hurt him. By 2012-13, he should be ready to challenge for a full-time NHL job and long-term he should slot in a solid two-way second-pairing rearguard.

6. (8) Nick Palmieri, RW, 7.0B
Drafted 3rd round, 79th overall, 2007

It was a slow start for Palmieri this season in Albany, but once he was re-called to New Jersey at the end of December when Jacques Lemaire took over, his game took off. He played with Kovalchuk and Zajac for most of his time up with the big club and proved to be a nice complimentary player on that line. He used his big body well to create room for himself and provided a good presence in front of the net. He scored six goals and five assists in 26 games with Albany and nine goals and eight assists in 43 games with New Jersey.

After he was re-called to New Jersey, Palmieri was used in a role much better suited to his skills. Blessed with great size and good hands, it looks as though Palmieri has figured things out at the NHL level, and should only get better with more experience. He's likely not ever going to be a star or a first line talent, but he's living up to his potential as a top-six power-forward and will be given every opportunity to pick up right where he left off last season.

7. (6) Adam Henrique, C, 6.5B
Drafted 3rd round, 82nd overall, 2008

After a standout junior career, Adam Henrique made a smooth and effortless transition to the pro game. Early injuries to the big club forced him into a more prominent role in Albany and he thrived when given the extra responsibilities. He played on the top line (both on the wing and at center), and finished the year with an impressive 25 goal, 25 assist season in 73 games.

There's not much left for Henrique to prove at the AHL level. The only problem is that there might not be room for him in New Jersey with the way the depth chart looks at this point in time. However Zajac's injury could possibly open up a chance for him to start the season with the big club. It definitely won't hurt him if he has to spend more time on the farm, but his mature and elite two-way play will force New Jersey's hand sooner rather than later. He oozes character and intangible qualities that can't be taught and will likely get a chance to play in New Jersey at some point this year and be a lineup regular in 2012-13.