The ninth pick in the SenShot NHL mock draft belongs to a team that missed the playoffs one year after making the Stanley Cup Finals, and has some question marks going forward.
#9 – NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Apr 25, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; The New Jersey Devils celebrate a goal by New Jersey Devils right wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) during the third period at the Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Penguins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM STRENGTHS: Defense and goaltending
TEAM WEAKNESSES: scoring up front after Ilya Kovalchuk
HOCKEY’S FUTURE ORGANIZATIONAL PROSPECT RANK: 29th of 30 teams
UNDER CONSIDERATION: Zachary Fucale, Elias Lindholm, Alexander Wennburg, Aleksander Barkov, Hunter Shinkaruk
FANSIDED MOCK DRAFT PICK: Pucks and Pitchforks selected Hunter Shinkaruk
SENSHOT’S CHOICE: Aleksander Barkov from Tappera in Finland. With a lack of scoring depth in the middle, the Devils welcome Barkov to the fold. While probably a year or two away from coming to North America, he possesses the skill and compete level needed to excel in the NHL and also the responsibility to play in the Devils system. He was ranked as high as 4th on many draft boards so the Devils get a steal at 9.
MOCK DRAFT TO DATE (click on team to view the selection):
| PICK | TEAM | PICK |
| 1 | COLORADO | Seth Jones, Portland (WHL) |
| 2 | FLORIDA | Jonathan Drouin, Halifax (QMJHL) |
| 3 | TAMPA | Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax (QMJHL) |
| 4 | NASHVILLE | Valeri Nichushkin, Chelijabinsk 2 (KHL) |
| 5 | CAROLINA | Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
| 6 | CALGARY | Sean Monahan, Ottawa (OHL) |
| 7 | EDMONTON | Nikita Zadorov, London (OHL) |
| 8 | BUFFALO | Max Domi, London (OHL) |
| 9 | NEW JERSEY | Alexsander Barkov, Tappera (FIN) |