The New Jersey Devils have selected 462 players to date at the annual NHL Entry Draft, which began in 1963. The Hockey News will start a series on the franchise’s top five picks from rounds one through 14.
Historically, New Jersey has drafted 45 players between the 10th and 14th rounds, 12 of whom have appeared in an NHL game and eight of whom have played for the Devils.
Here's a list of their first-ever picks from the latest rounds of the draft:
- 10th - Denis Carufel (162nd) - 1974
- 11th - Soren Johansson (177th) - 1974
- 12th - Mats Ulander (191st) - 1974
- 13th - Edward Pizunski (203rd) - 1974
- 14th - WIllie Wing (213rd) - 1974
The NHL has not held an Entry Draft with more than nine rounds since 2004, limiting the selections to seven rounds starting in 2005.
Join us each week to see who makes the cut as the best-drafted player in Devils' history.
Note: Dates, achievements, and statistics obtained from Hockey-Reference.com and EliteProspects.com .
Top New Jersey Devils Draft Picks From Rounds 10 to 14
5. Corey Schwab – 200th Overall 1990
NHL stats: 147 GP / 42-63-13 / .896 SV% - 2.89 GAA
New Jersey stats: 24 GP / 7-6-2 / .929 SV% - 1.54 GAA
Corey Schwab is one of two goalies drafted by the Devils after the ninth round to make it into the NHL, with the other being Frederic Chabot in 1986.
Schwab had a cup of coffee with New Jersey in 1995-96, playing in 10 games, before moving on to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
As a free agent, he returned to the Devils in July 2002, became Martin Brodeur's backup in June 2003, and got his name on the Stanley Cup.
4. Alexander Semak – 207th Overall 1988
NHL stats: 289 GP – 83 G – 91 A – 174 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 180 GP – 56 G – 71 A – 127 Pt s
Alexander Semak was among the first Russians drafted by the Devils after Alexander Mogilny defected to play in North America in 1988.
Even though Semak wouldn't join the organization until 1991-92, he was busy playing junior hockey and competing for a World Championship, which he won in 1990.
His best NHL season came with New Jersey in 1992-93, when he netted 37 goals and 79 points in 82 games.
Even though he played in other cities, Tampa Bay, New York (Islanders), and Vancouver, he never matched the production levels he had with the Devils for four seasons.
3. Mike Peluso – 190th Overall 1984
NHL stats: 458 GP – 38 G – 52 A – 90 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 192 GP – 9 G – 35 A – 44 Pt s
Mike Peluso was initially drafted by the Devils in 1984, but he opted to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1989. He wound up with the Ottawa Senators in the 1992 Expansion Draft, but he was traded back to New Jersey in 1993.
His career came full circle in 1995 when he was a member of the Devils team that won the franchise's first Stanley Cup. Although his time in New Jersey was short, he played in St. Louis and Calgary before a neck injury forced him to retire at 32 in 1998.
2. Alexei Kasatonov – 225th Overall 1983
NHL stats: 383 GP – 38 G – 122 A – 160 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 257 GP – 31 G – 88 A – 119 Pt s
Alexei Kasatonov is like many Russian-drafted players in the 1980s whose rights belonged to NHL teams, but they remained at home playing in every international event.
When the Devils selected him in 1983, Kasatonov was already a two-time World Junior Champion, an Olympic Silver Medalist, and a three-time World Champion.
He did not debut in the NHL until 1989-90 and played four seasons with New Jersey before splitting his three final campaigns with the Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins.
Kasatonov's international accomplishments outweigh his NHL achievements, which led to an introduction into the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
1. Valeri Zelepukin – 221st Overall 1990
NHL stats: 595 GP – 117 G – 177 A – 294 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 375 GP – 85 G – 133 A – 218 Pt s
Valeri Zelepukin is the best late-round draft pick in Devils history since he spent seven years with the organization, more than any other skater drafted after the ninth round.
At 26, he won the Stanley Cup when New Jersey swept the Detroit Red Wings in 1995, a year after he finished 15th in Selke Trophy voting.
After 218 points in 375 games, Zelepukin netted just 76 points in 220 games with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Blackhawks, departing from North America to play in Russia after the 2001-02 season.
While representing his home country, Zelepukin won a World Junior Silver Medal, a World Championship Bronze Medal, and an Olympic Silver Medal.
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