An Overview of the Devils Prospects Part 2: The Defensemen and Goaltenders

My first post in this series focused on the forwards in the Devils prospect pool. This post will feature the defensemen and goaltenders. As you will see below, defensemen like Damon Severson and Steve Santini are the bright spots in the Devils prospect group with some nice complimentary players mixed in.

Defining a Prospect

Once again, I will use the definition of a prospect from Hockey Prospectus:

For our purposes, a prospect is defined as a player who has 25 or fewer regular season games played during the last NHL season, or 50 or fewer career NHL regular season games played. The age cutoff is 26 years old, as of September 15th. If a player is in the KHL, he is not considered a prospect if he is signed past his age-22 season.

I'm also modifying the age cutoff to 25 and grouping the prospects together based on the league they are expected to play in during the 2014-15 season. Obviously, Jon Merrill, Adam Larsson, and Eric Gelinas have exceeded the games played threshold and Corbin McPherson, who had a solid year in Albany, will just miss the age cutoff.

AHL/ECHL

Brandon Burlon - D - 6'0, 195 lbs. - DOB: 3/5/1990 - Acquired: 2008 Draft (2/52)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Albany	AHL	54	5	6	11	3	39

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	G/GP	A/GP	Pts/GP	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
8	1.43	6.49	0.093	0.111	0.204	3	1	4	2	5	7

The Devils drafted Burlon out of the OPJHL in 2008 and watched him go on to play 3 seasons for the University of Michigan. Burlon surprised some people when he decided to forgo his senior year to turn professional for the 2011-12 season. Burlon's development has seemed to stagnate since then and he has already been passed on the depth chart by Merrill, Gelinas, and Helgeson. With more young defensemen coming into Albany, his chance to ever play in NJ and perhaps the NHL seems to have disappeared.

Maxime Clermont - G - 6'0, 200 lbs. - DOB: 12/31/1991 - Acquired: 2010 Draft (6/174)

ECHL	Games Started	SV%	SO	SO%	QS	QS%	RBS	RBS%	BO	BO%	GA%-	GSAA
Total	23	.892	1	4.35	11	47.83	9	39.13	2	8.69	116	-11.25

My post from a few weeks ago reviews Clermont's most recent tumultuous season (includes info on stats listed above). This past season Clermont spent time for both Elmira and Orlando as the back up goaltender. Putting up a bunch of sub .900 SV% in the ECHL suggests he doesn't have much potential and is just the "5th" goaltender in the organization for depth purposes.

Joe Faust - D - 5'11, 207 lbs. - DOB: 11/15/1991 - Acquired: 2010 Draft (4/114)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Wisconsin	Big Ten	37	2	12	14	9	8

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts	Blks
6	0.86	6.25	2	11	13	0	0	0	40

Faust attended the most recent prospect camp which suggests the Devils will probably sign him to an AHL deal. I am a bit surprised though as he hasn't really developed that much since when they drafted him out of high school. He spent parts of his freshman year at Wisconsin as a healthy scratch, then was on the 3rd pair for 2 years, and just this past season had a more expanded role. His offensive game never developed as hoped with just a 0.16 points per game rate after a 1.51 points per game rate in high school. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the ECHL this year if the Devils sign him.

Curtis Gedig - D - 6'3, 202 lbs. - DOB: 9/14/1991 - Acquired: 2009 Draft (7/204)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Ohio State	Big Ten	33	2	8	10	4	10

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts	Blks
4	1.79	3.39	0	4	4	2	4	6	54

It's been a long journey for Curtis Gedig as he is about to enter his rookie season in the AHL. Drafted in the last round of the 2009 draft, Gedig has worked his way up from the BCHL and finished off a successful 4 year stint at Ohio State were he captained the team the past 2 years. He is a large but mobile defender that plays physical and was utilized in all situations by Ohio State.

Seth Helgeson - D - 6'5, 215 lbs. - DOB: 10/8/1990 - Acquired: 2009 Draft (4/114)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Albany	AHL	75	1	9	10	12	100

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	G/GP	A/GP	Pts/GP	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
5	0.87	1.54	0.013	0.120	0.133	1	9	10	0	0	0

Helgeson is a large, physical, stay at home defenseman who enjoyed a successful rookie season in Albany after 4 years and 150 games with the University of Minnesota. He was paired up with Corbin McPherson for the majority of the season and tasked with the responsibility of taking on the opposition's top line according to Bill Cain of The Daily Gazette. It wouldn't be a stretch to think that Helgeson may be able to contend for a spot in NJ in a year or two.

Raman Hrabarenka - D - 6'3, 212 lbs. - DOB: 8/24/1992 - Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (10/6/2012)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Albany	AHL	48	6	15	21	-3	26

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	G/GP	A/GP	Pts/GP	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
14	1.56	8.00	0.125	0.313	0.438	1	11	12	5	4	9

Hrabarenka enjoyed a break out year offensively in a limited role, gaining more playing time once Gelinas and Merrill were called up. The Belorussian defender spent 2 years in the QMJHL before signing with the Devils organization after impressing during training camp a few years ago. The soon to be 22 year old is a bit raw in his own end but still has plenty of time to round out his game. He's already represented Belarus 3 times in the World Hockey Championship.

Dan Kelly - D - 6'1, 195 lbs. - DOB: 5/17/1989 - Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (5/19/2010)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Albany	AHL	71	3	14	17	13	86

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	G/GP	A/GP	Pts/GP	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
9	0.92	4.62	0.042	0.197	0.239	3	14	17	0	0	0

I'm really including Kelly for the sake of completeness since he's still in the organization but no longer on a NHL deal. He's really filled in the Jay Leach role of mentoring the young players in Albany and he isn't really a prospect at this point. Still a guy like that is nice to have around in the minors with so many young defensemen in the system. He served as an alternate captain for Albany last year and was captain for Kitchener in his OHL career.

Keith Kinkaid - G - 6'3, 190 lbs. - DOB: 7/4/1989 - Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (4/18/2011)

Team	Games Started	SV%	SO	SO%	QS	QS%	RBS	RBS%	BO	BO%	GA%-	GSAA
Albany	42	.912	4	9.52	25	59.52	7	16.66	3	7.14	98	1.74

I also previously reviewed Kinkaid's career best season here. Kinkaid emerged as Albany's go to man with a 24-13-5-5 record, 2.29 GAA, and 4 shutouts. The more in-depth numbers also show that he was solid and has earned himself a chance to contend with Scott Clemmensen for the back up job in NJ. At 25 years old, it's time for Kinkaid to earn his NHL spot. I'd have to think the Devils would be very happy if he could turn into a reliable back up option for the next few years - that's far from certain though. The Devils signed Kinkaid from Union College after an impressive 2010-11 campaign that saw him put up a .920 SV% in 38 games.

Reece Scarlett - D - 6'1, 175 lbs. - DOB: 3/31/1993 - Acquired: 2011 Draft (6/159)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Albany	AHL	48	6	14	20	11	18

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	G/GP	A/GP	Pts/GP	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
14	1.21	10.34	0.125	0.292	0.417	0	8	8	6	6	12

Scarlett missed some time late in the year due to an upper body injury but seemed to have a smooth transition in his rookie season. He provided some of the offense from the back end that went missing when Gelinas was called up. He's not big player but is able to use his skill, skating, and positioning to be effective at both ends of the ice. He will only be 21 next year and with the Devils depth, he will probably be in Albany for at least another year or two. Scarlett is a player that the Devils drafted late in 2011 out of Swift Current in the WHL after his ranking slipped during his draft year. He has the potential of being one of those guys that quietly develops into a nice NHL player.

Damon Severson - D - 6'2, 210 lbs. - DOB: 8/7/1994 - Acquired: 2012 Draft (2/60)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Kelowna	WHL	64	15	46	61	47	63

eTOI/60	P/60	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	EV P/60	GShr%	AShr%	PShr%	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
24.1	2.3	8	30	38	1.9	10.1	42.3	48.1	5	15	20

Two way defenseman Damon Severson has steadily improved every year in junior and will now make the jump to Albany to formally begin his professional career. Last year saw Severson serve as an alternate captain for Kelowna, eat a ton of minutes night in and night out, and play effectively in all situations. He was nearly a point per game during the regular season as a 19 year old defenseman and then had 18 points in Kelowna's 14 playoff games. Severson also nearly made the Canadian World Junior team before being the last defenseman cut. If it wasn't for the quality and depth NJ already has on their blue line, he would probably have a shot at cracking the big team.

Scott Wedgewood - G - 6'1, 195 lbs. - DOB: 8/14/1992 - Acquired: 2010 Draft (3/84)

Team	Games Started	SV%	SO	SO%	QS	QS%	RBS	RBS%	BO	BO%	GA%-	GSAA
Albany	33	.899	4	12.12	19	57.58	7	21.21	3	9.09	112	-8.71

Wedgewood was also profiled in my goaltender review a few weeks ago. The soon to be 22 year old has disappointed thus far in his professional career after a solid OHL career in Plymouth. In 2012-13 he posted a .900 SV% in 48 ECHL games and last year was around the same mark in 36 AHL games. His strong late season surge did see him finish with a 16-14-2-3 record and 4 shutouts. The good news for Wedgewood is that he still has time to turn it around, but he really needs to show improvement soon.

CHL

Anthony Brodeur - G - 5'11, 194 lbs. - DOB: 6/8/1995 - Acquired: 2013 Draft (7/208)

Team	Games Started	SV%	SO	SO%	QS	QS%	RBS	RBS%	BO	BO%	GA%-	GSAA
Gatineau	22	.887	2	9.09	9	40.90	9	40.90	3	13.64	110	-6.01

I reviewed Anthony Brodeur's season a few weeks ago here. The rookie netminder went 13-12-0 with a 2.90 GAA in 30 games for Gatineau. As you can tell by his numbers (both basic and more in-depth) he struggled in his rookie season in the QMJHL. He will have a chance to solidify the #1 spot for Gatineau in camp, but there is a strong chance he ends up splitting time with another goaltender next year.

Ryan Rehill - D - 6'3, 213 lbs. - DOB: 11/7/1995 - Acquired: 2014 Draft (5/131)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Kamloops	WHL	72	4	16	20	-4	182

eTOI/60	P/60	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	EV P/60	GShr%	AShr%	PShr%	PPG	PPA	PP Pts
17.7	0.9	3	11	14	0.8	6.5	25.6	30.4	1	5	6

Rehill is another one of the new additions to the prospect pool and John posted this about Rehill after the Devils selected him. The physical defender led the WHL in penalty minutes thanks in large part to his 15 fights. The Kamloops alternate captain already has the size and toughness that appeals to NHL organizations. The question is whether or not he will be able to improve his overall game, especially his skating, to turn into a useful defender down the road.

NCAA

Joshua Jacobs - D - 6'2, 193 lbs. - DOB: 2/15/1996 - Acquired: 2014 Draft (2/41)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Indiana	USHL	56	5	18	23	36	46

The Devils drafted the fluid skating defenseman in June to add to an already impressive group of defensive prospects. John had this post with a ton of info on Jacobs in June. Jacobs possesses a two way game with a lot of offensive skill. It's notable that he averaged 1.82 SH/GP and his points were almost evenly split between EV and PP time. He was a key component of two championship winning teams last year, with Indiana winning the USHL championship and the US U19 team winning the World Junior A Challenge. Jacobs also made the USHL All-Star team. He is projected to attend a rebuilding Michigan State team in the fall but he also has the option to forgo college and play major junior hockey with Sarnia in the OHL. A more unlikely option is for him to spend another year in the USHL, though with Green Bay since Indiana folded.

Steve Santini - D - 6'2, 201 lbs. - DOB: 3/7/1995 - Acquired: 2013 Draft (2/42)

	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
2013-14	Boston College	Hockey East	35	3	8	11	26	52

Pts1	SH/GP	SH%	EVG	EVA	EV Pts	PPG	PPA	PP Pts	Blks
6	1.03	8.33	3	8	11	0	0	0	68

Santini enjoyed a very successful 2013-14 campaign earning a consistent role as a freshman for Boston College and a spot on the US World Junior Team as a shutdown defenseman. As advertised he was as solid as they come in his own end and managed to take advantage of Boston College's high flying offense to put up more points than he was projected for. Santini also made news for his crushing open ice hits (that the strict NCAA punishes) and had two suspensions as a result. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and helped BC to a Frozen Four appearance. It's likely Santini stays in school for two more years but it is possible that a strong year this upcoming season will make him turn professional even earlier than expected.

Your Take

How excited are you about this group of prospects? Which prospects do you find intriguing and which are you skeptical of? How do you think the new prospects in Albany will fare in their rookie seasons? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading.