Devils trade up to select Josefson; Lamoriello calls trade with Flames "total coincidence"

It appears the Devils might have received some compensation for Brent Sutter anyway.

The Devils made a trade with the Calgary Flames to move up three spots and select Swedish center Jacob Josefson with the 20th pick overall in the NHL Entry Draft tonight in Montreal.

"I was a little bit nervous, but it was fun at the same time," Josefson said. "It was definitely something I was looking forward to for a long time. It's a dream come true."

The Devils gave up the 84th pick (their own third round pick) to move up fromt 23rd to 20th. They have still have Minnesota's third-round pick (74th) after acquiring it in last year's draft by moving down one spot in the first round.

Josefson (6-0, 187 pounds) is considered a good two-way center and strong skater. He's already been playing against men in the Swedish Elite League with Djurgarden.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said the team's scouts had Josefson ranked "pretty high" and was happy he fell far enough for them have a chance to trade up and pick him.

NHL's Central Scouting had him ranked third among European skaters behind defenseman Victor Hedman, who was drafted second overall by Tampa Bay, and left wing Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, who was selected 10th by Edmonton. International Scouting had Josefson ranked as the 10th player available. The Hockey News had him slated to be picked 15th.

“He’s a complete player," Lamoriello said. “I haven’t seen our draft table as excited as I’ve seen them today in a long time because where we had him ranked and then he didn’t go. Then, you get to point where you say, ‘Maybe he’s going to be close.’ Then, when you get close to where you’re going to draft, maybe four or five picks, that’s the only chance you have of somebody else switching. So, we made some calls and we were able to get Calgary to do it.”

 

Josefson said he had been told by his agent he'd probably be drafted anywhere between 10th and 25th. He had met with the Devils "twice" before the draft.

 

"And the meetings went really good, but I didn't really know if they were going to pick me," he said. "I'm real happy they did."

The Devils were not entitled to compensation from the Flames for signing Sutter, who still had one year left on his contract when he resigned on June 9. So, was it just a coicidence that the Devils made the trade with Calgary only three days after the Flames hired Sutter?

 

"Total coincidence," Lamoriello said.

Despite playing only 10 minutes a game on the fourth line, he had five goals and 11 assists in 50 games with Djugarden. He struggled at the World Junior Championships, howver, failing to register a point in six games.

The Devils were not scared off by that. Lamoriello said European scout Dan Labraaten "has been following him for a few years."

"He's a center iceman who can do everything on both sides of the puck," Lamoriello said. "He makes other people better than him. He's a passer. He's the type of player -- he's a lefty shot -- that we need."

The Devils did have a need in their system for a skilled centerman.

This is the second year in a row the Devils drafted a player from Sweden in the first round. They took speedy left wing Mattias Tedenby 24th overall last year. The Devils have taken Swedish players with three of their last four first-round picks. They took Nicklas Bergfors 23rd in 2005.

Josefson said he played on the same line with Tedenby "a couple of times" on the national team last year, but not during the 2009 World Juniors.

"I know him Mattias pretty good and he always tells me good things against New Jersey," he said. "I played against him a few times (in the Swedish Elite League) and we played together on the national team and I know him pretty well. He's a tremendous player." 

Josefson said he has another year left on his contract with Djurgarden and then would be free to come to the NHL if he believes he's ready.

"If I'm ready, I want to be in the NHL," he said.

Lamoriello said the Josefson will attend the team's development camp, which begins on July 13 at Prudential Center.

Comments

[YEAHw/e]

thats not compensation. it would be if they took Zubrus as well

[Falcone]

I like it. Not the biggest guy, but a Zetterberg type player...that'll work since Maddog will be gone. Hopefully this kid can make an immediate impact.

[njhillbilly]

This is a great pick.. Surprised Josefson fell that far. Hey Calgary, thanks for the "compensation"

[Peter]

what did they trade to get him?

[Mike]

You really think the kid can make the team this year? :\

[Puckster]

What did we give up for the trade up? I heard something about a conditional pick? Any details?

[Bill]

great pick hopefully we see a swede line sometime soon.

[dAVE]

what compensation, unless there giving us another 2nd rounder.... or even more.... compensation means getting something for sutter, not trading up with calgary

[jules]

Nice back scratch there.

[Just Some Guy]

Hey, I almost nailed this pick and was accused of smoking something:

Time for draft predictions. I think we need to shore up our thin center position. I would like to be able to get Chris Kreider out of Andover Prep. I have a hunch that this is the type of player that Lou would like, too. In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that if Kreider is still hanging around at pick 17, 18, 19 or so, Lou will move up by using his extra 3rd rounder.

Posted by: Just Some Guy | June 26, 2009 at 04:15 PM

Kreider was taken with the pick just before by the Rangers.

Josefson is a nice pick though, so I'm not at all unhappy. Love two-way centers.

[njhillbilly]

We gave up a third round pick. Definitely a favor from Calgary. We still have Minnesota's third rounder.

Devils have a pretty strong potential future lineup down the middle. Zajac - Josefson - Cormier.

[danimal]

Peter/Puckster

The Devils traded their 23rd and 84th picks in the draft to Calgary to move up to number 20

[YEAHw/e]

so we have another Zajac? im happy with that

[dAVE]

i want more from sutter jumping ship. screw him

[Neil S]

Mike, he's only 18, we won't see him for another year or two at least.

[njhillbilly]

He's better off playing in the SEL for now anyway. Probably 2 years away when he becomes eligible for Lowell.

[Tom]

I was hoping for a defenseman like Erickson or Elliot, but Josefson seems promising.

[mpf]

Would Palimeri have been better?
I don't know anything about this guy but lets hope he turns into something. Our drafting has been bad lately and I hope this doesn't turn into another career AHL Swede. Less than 20 points in a Euro league and a bad world juniors doesn't get me expecting much from this guy at all, though.

[Tom]

Here is his NHL.com profile. A few articles about him as well:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=5372&tab=prf

[AGIV]

So we draft a guy who had 5 goals in 50 games, and the bruins pick a guy several spots later who is bigger and scored 30+ goals in roughly the same number of games. I am also concerned about our track record of drafting Europeans... who is the last European the Devils drafted that made it, in NJ or otherwise?

[Ziggy]

I'm extremely happy with this pick. I wanted him from the start.

[dAVE]

I hope the Devs can sneak Palmieri in there somewhere... it would be great for them to draft a njersey boy..

[dAVE]

Palmerie goes 26... to the ducks... amazing

[Just Some Guy]

Every major scouting service has Josefson ranked ahead of Caron, so its more than just goal totals. Different leagues, different talent levels, different age groups.

[Philly Devil]

Jacob will play in Sweden next year, he WILL NOT be in NJ, Lowell or Trenton. He has one year left in Sweden. He's described as a playmaker and we need that. He;s not a shut down guy like Madden and he'll be very good for us. As of right now our future looks the following at center: Zajac, Josefson, Pelley and Cormier.