Looking Back at the 2019 Draft | DRAFT

The 2019 NHL Draft can be summed up in three simple words said by that year's First-Overall pick Jack Hughes: Let's go baby! The Devils added 11 new prospects to the franchise including a future face of the organization in Hughes. Let's take a look back to 2019 and who New Jersey added to their prospect pool.

Round 1, Pick 1: Jack Hughes

Four years later and this pick looks even brighter than it did on Draft Day. Hughes made his NHL debut on Oct. 4, 2019, just a few months after the Devils selected him First-Overall. He went on to score his first NHL goal on Oct. 19 against his brother Quinn and the Vancouver Canucks, the first of many goals for Jack.

Hughes made jumps in his development, performance, and production every season. Through 61 games in his rookie campaign he had 21 points, seven of which were goals. His second year, in a shortened COVID season, Hughes had 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points through 56 games. In his third season, despite being injured multiple times, Hughes scored 26 goals, had 30 assists, and hit 56 points through 49 games.

The 2022-23 season was a whole new level of play from Hughes. The 2019 First-Overall pick emerged as a top offensive player in the NHL while helping the Devils record the biggest turnaround in NHL history from one season to the next. Hughes also helped the Devils return to the playoffs for the first time in five years. Hughes put up huge numbers last season as well. He scored 43 goals, contributed 56 assists, and finished the year with 99 points, a new single season franchise record. He led the Devils in all scoring categories in the regular season, went to his second straight NHL All-Star weekend, and continued to show why the Devils picked him back in 2019.

In his first NHL playoffs run, Hughes led the Devils in goals (6) and points (11) and was second on the team in assists (5). The Devils fell in the Second Round of the playoffs after beating the Rangers in seven games during the First Round, but it was a great first taste of playoff hockey for Hughes. There's plenty to look forward to from the Devils first selection in the 2019 Draft as Hughes has seven years left in his current contract with New Jersey.

Round 2, Pick 61: Nikita Okhotiuk

Following his Draft, defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk played one more year of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67's before joining the Binghamton Devils during the 2020-21 season. Okhotiuk played two and a half seasons with the Devils' AHL affiliates in Binghamton and later on Utica. The 61st overall pick made his NHL debut with the Devils on Apr. 21, 2022 where he scored his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. Okhotiuk went on to play five games for the Devils at the end of the 2021-22 season, and then 10 games with New Jersey over the 2022-23 campaign.

The Devils traded Okhotiuk to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26, 2023 as part of a deal that brought Timo Meier to New Jersey ahead of the trade deadline. Okhotiuk underwent core surgery in early April, as announced by Sharks General Manager Mike Grier, so he has yet to play for his new team, but is expected at San Jose's training camp this fall.

Round 3, Pick 70: Daniil Misyul

Defenseman Daniil Misyul spent the last four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He also represented Russia at the 2020 World Junior Championship where he won a Silver Medal. During the 2022-23 season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Misyul picked up seven assists through 59 games played. He finished the year plus-21 and was one of 12 KHL skaters to finish plus-21 or better.

The Devils announced in May of this year that Misyul signed a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Round 3, Pick 80: Graeme Clarke

After Graeme Clarke was selected by the Devils in the 2019 Draft, the forward played one more year in the OHL with the Ottawa 67's and fellow Devils prospect Nikita Okhotiuk. With the delayed start to the AHL season due to COVID, Clarke started the 2020-21 season in Slovakia with HC Nova Zamky, before returning to the Binghamton Devils to finish out his year.

Clarke played for the Utica Comets over the last two seasons and this year showed massive improvements. Through 68 games played, Clarke put up 25 goals and had 33 assists for 58 points. All of those were new career-highs as the 80th-overall pick had 34 more points than his previous high.

The 2023-24 season is the final year on Clarke's entry-level contract and the forward will be an RFA next summer.

Round 3, Pick 82: Michael Vukojevic

Defenseman Michael Vukojevic rounded out the Devils three picks in the third round and has been another exciting prospect in New Jersey's prospect pool. After the draft, Vukojevic played one more year in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers before starting his professional career in the AHL with the Devils' affiliate. Vukojevic just wrapped up his third AHL season with the Utica Comets. Through 37 games he had two goals and one assist for three points. The defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut.

Vukojevic is in the third and final year of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

Round 4, Pick 96: Tyce Thompson

After Tyce Thompson was drafted by the Devils in 2019, the forward started his college hockey career at Providence College. Thompson was named Captain in his sophomore season with the Friars. Following the conclusion of the college hockey season, Thompson signed his entry-level contract on Mar. 24, 2021. He made his NHL debut on Apr. 6 against his brother Tage and the Buffalo Sabres. Thompson picked up his first NHL point, an assist, in his debut. The 2019 Draft pick went on to play seven games for the Devils and 11 games with the Binghamton Devils during the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

During the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Thompson played for both the Devils and the Utica Comets. During his first full professional hockey season, the forward played the majority of his games with the Comets before an injury ended his season early. Last year, Thompson played 56 games with the Comets where he scored seven goals and had 19 assists for 26 points. He also played a pair of games with the Devils.

Thompson is entering the second and final year of his current contract with the Devils that he signed on Aug. 2, 2022. He will be a RFA next summer.

Round 4, Pick 118: Case McCarthy

Defenseman Case McCarthy spent the last four seasons playing college hockey for Boston University. Over the 2022-23 season McCarthy wore an A for the Terriers and played 35 games. He contributed 15 total points, including three goals, but suffered a season-ending injury in the Hockey East semifinals.

McCarthy will return to the Terriers for his fifth-year in the fall where he will Captain Boston University's team. He was named this honor by former Devil and BU Head Coach Jay Pandolfo.

Round 5, Pick 127: Cole Brady

Goaltender Cole Brady spent one more year in the United States Hockey League with the Fargo Force after he was drafted before playing college hockey. Brady started his collegiate career at Arizona State University before joining the University of Massachusetts Amherst hockey team last season.

Over the 2022-23 campaign with the Minutemen, Brady played 12 games, had a 3.10 goals against average, and a .907 save percentage. He recorded one shutout and had a 4-5-0 record in his junior season.

Round 5, Pick 129: Arseny Gritsyuk

Forward Arseny Gritsyuk has spent the last four seasons overseas playing in the Vysshaya Hokkeinaya Liga (VHL), Major Hockey League (MHL) and the KHL. Over the last three years, Gritsyuk played for Avangard Omsk in the KHL and for various Russian National Teams. Like several of his fellow Devils prospects, the 129th pick played at the 2020 World Junior Championship. Gritsyuk and Misyul each won Silver Medals together at the tournament.

Last year Grtisyuk played 66 games for Avangard Omsk where he scored 15 goals and had 25 assists for 40 points, a new career high.

Round 6, Pick 158: Patrick Moynihan

Forward Patrick Moynihan played college hockey for the last four years with the Providence College Friars, including two years with fellow 2019 Draft class member Tyce Thompson. Moynihan also represented Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship. Last year with the Friars, Moynihan played 34 games where he contributed seven goals and three assists for 10 points.

Moynihan is expected to play for the University of Notre Dame next season.

Round 7, Pick 189: Nikola Pasic

With their final pick in the 2019 Draft the Devils selected forward Nikola Pasic. Since he was drafted, Pasic has remained in Sweden playing in the top two professional leagues: the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and HockeyAllsvenskan. Pasic also represented Sweden in the 2020 World Junior Championship and played against several other Devils prospects from the same draft class.

Last season Pasic played 51 games for Sodertalje SK in HockeyAllsvenskan. He had 18 goals and 34 assists for 52 points. Pasic is expected to play for Lulea HF in the SHL next season.