{"id":568159,"date":"2026-05-06T09:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/568159\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T09:21:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:21:20","slug":"4-players-the-devils-should-target-with-the-12th-pick-in-the-2026-nhl-draft-the-hockey-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/568159\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Players the Devils Should Target With the 12th Pick in the 2026 NHL Draft – The Hockey Writers –"},"content":{"rendered":"

LW Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 6-foot-5 inches,\u00a0227 pounds)<\/a><\/p>\n

RD Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL, 6-foot-2 inches, 203 pounds)<\/a><\/p>\n

RD Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants, WHL, 5-foot-11 inches, 176 pounds)<\/a><\/p>\n

F Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit, OHL, 6-foot-0 inches, 181 pounds)<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/a><\/p>\n

During tonight\u2019s NHL Draft Lottery, it has officially been revealed that the New Jersey Devils<\/a> will possess the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, taking place June 26th in Buffalo, New York. Of course, with the Devils\u2019 struggle to score in 2025-26, they should be willing to deal the pick for the correct price.<\/p>\n

But if a deal fails to come to fruition, there are some very good options that may be available at #12. Here are the most intriguing:<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no guarantee that Ethan Belchetz (or any of these players, for that matter) will still be on the board. But 15 reputable mock drafts had him going at an average slot of 10.4 \u2014 as high as #5 and as low as #16.<\/p>\n

Belchetz may not have the counting stats as some other projected high picks; he had 59 points (34 G, 25 A) in 57 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League<\/a> (OHL). It\u2019s nothing to scoff at but not exactly marvelous\u2026until you consider that he\u2019s 6-foot-5 and could still potentially grow as he doesn\u2019t turn 19 until March 30th.<\/p>\n

\"EthanWindsor Spitfires\u2019 2024 first overall pick Ethan Belchetz (David Jewell \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Like Beckett Sennecke (6-foot-4) in 2024, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see Belchetz shoot up draft boards as the night grows closer. It oftentimes takes players of that size a much longer time to grow into their body, and we saw Sennecke successfully do so with 60 points in his first NHL season.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelchetz is a unicorn in terms of his blend of\u00a0physical stature and offensive skillset<\/a>. He\u2019s fierce in battles for the puck, especially along the boards or down low below the goal. He can easily bully his way to the danger areas, showing great strength and puck protection skills for quality scoring chances. He can produce and he\u2019s a player that will make your life miserable when he comes barrelling on the attack and battling for the puck. Teams love that combination of size and skill and Belchetz brings that on a consistent basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Peter Baracchini, The Hockey Writers<\/a><\/p>\n

Belchetz missed Windsor\u2019s final eight games, plus playoffs, with a broken clavicle. The Devils could benefit if that, plus his counting stats, cause him to slip as a result.<\/p>\n

Daxon Rudolph may very well be picked before the Devils have a chance. The mocks have him going at an average of #13, but given his production and recent chatter, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see him land inside the top 10.<\/p>\n

Rudolph, a defenseman, had an impressive 78 points (28 G, 50 A) in 68 games, along with a plus-32 rating. There doesn\u2019t seem to be a true glaring knack, which is why the consensus seems to keep pushing him him up their mocks.<\/p>\n

Daxon Rudolph is leading the WHL playoffs in scoring\u2026 and did this shorthanded tonight<\/p>\n

3 points so far in Game 2. 5 in ~2 games. Red hot. pic.twitter.com\/ZwdYxsGpZX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 29, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

His lone criticisms are nitpicky \u2014 he can be a little more physical given his size, yet remains an extremely effective shutdown defenseman nonetheless. He\u2019s not as dynamic or shifty as, say, a Cale Makar but those point totals alone, in combination with his stellar defensive work, basically ensure a floor of a top-four defenseman.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Daxon, amongst all the players in this upcoming draft, has been one of the most impressive players. [He has a] hard, competitive, edgy game, great leader, great competitor and, I\u2019ll be honest, I didn\u2019t give him enough credit for his skill level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Craig Button, TSN<\/a><\/p>\n

Many fans and analysts alike will see Ryan Lin\u2019s 5-foot-11 height and run away. But watching any of Lin\u2019s highlight reels \u2014 or better yet, a full game \u2014 will immediately extinguish size-related concerns.<\/p>\n

Lin posted 57 points (14 G, 43 A) in 53 games from the back-end for a Vancouver Giants squad that finished last in the Western Conference \u2014 152 fewer goals than the league\u2019s leading squad. First off, there\u2019s a clear offensive talent in his totals alone. In fact, in 2024\u201325, he had the highest point total (53) for a 16-year-old WHL defenseman since\u00a0Scott Niedermayer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ryan Lin is going to get the \u201csmall D\u201d knock. But he plays far from small<\/p>\n

The puck-moving and skating are essential NHL traits, but he\u2019s also very smart and effective in the DZ<\/p>\n

Wins battles, initiates contact, defends the rush. I liked what I saw here:pic.twitter.com\/b6JLUiIjTd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) October 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

Furthermore, he excels in nearly all defensive areas and regularly initiates contact with players of much larger stature. He\u2019s stellar in transition which suits the Devils\u2019 core well.<\/p>\n

If you only looked at the numbers, you\u2019d probably think Lin is a dynamic offensive defenceman whose size may hold him back. In reality, he\u2019s arguably the most complete player of the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Justin Giampietro, The Hockey Writers<\/a><\/p>\n

Time and time again, stubborn NHL scouts have shied away from smaller players in fear of how their play will translate. Devils\u2019 new general manager Sunny Mehta, who had Jesper Bratt (#162 overall) ranked as the third-best player in the 2016 NHL Draft<\/a>, probably wouldn\u2019t let that bother him too much.<\/p>\n

In those same mocks, Lin is drafted at an average of #15 overall. But under the hood, he seems like a top-five talent if it weren\u2019t for his size. He\u2019s committed to Denver University (NCAA).<\/p>\n

The first round will take place just one night before Nikita Klepov\u2019s 18th birthday \u2014 all signs point to him getting a very nice early present. The question is: will the Devils be the ones to give him that present?<\/p>\n

While a bit undersized, the offensive skillset \u2014 both shot and playmaking ablity \u2014 is certainly there for Klepov. His 97 points (37 G, 60 A) led the entire OHL, including all 73 older aready-drafted prospects who belong to NHL teams. His NHLe of 38.3<\/a>, which projects his scoring to an NHL-equivalent level, has him third in the entire class, trailing only consensus top pick Gavin McKenna (39.8) and Markus Ruck (39.3).<\/p>\n

\"NikitaNikita Klepov, Saginaw Spirit (Natalie Shaver\/OHL Images)<\/p>\n

Nothing is a gurantee; a player needs to put in the work for the results to translate, but players like Logan Stankoven, Leo Carlsson, Seth Jarvis, William Eklund and Dylan Guenther all had very similar NHLe rankings; that group averaged ~0.78 points per game in the NHL this season (~64-point pace).<\/p>\n

The only real knock on Klepov, aside from his size, is his ability to stay engaged in the defensive zone. That was also the case for players like Jarvis and Trevor Zegras, who went ninth and 13th respectively, rather than top-five. They turned out just fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are times when he is not fully active and finds himself more of a bystander. But overall, he has a strong two-way game and is still impactful at both ends of the ice, even when his production may not be there (which does not happen often).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Jordan Orth, The Hockey Writers<\/a><\/p>\n

The clear top-five offensive upside means even if he doesn\u2019t become a star, he can still be a very useful player for the Devils. He\u2019s committed to Michigan State (NCAA); scouts seem more divided on Klepov than others but many mocks have him between 16-18. If Mehta and the Devils personally value him the way NHLe does, and are wowed by his interview, it shouldn\u2019t be considered a reach. Mehta and co. deserve that trust<\/a> until proven otherwise.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/p>\n

The decision the Devils make with this pick \u2014 whether draft or trade, for better or worse, will play a key role in the future of the franchise. Again, Mehta and co. deserve fans\u2019 full trust. The Devils will also have picks in rounds two (#44), four (#108), five (#140) and six (#172).<\/p>\n

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