New Jersey Devils Best Eighth-Round Draft Picks of All-Time

The New Jersey Devils have selected 462 players to date at the annual NHL Entry Draft, which began in 1963. The Hockey News will continue its series on the franchise’s top five picks from each round leading up to the 2024 event on Friday, June 28.

Historically, New Jersey has drafted 29 players in the eighth round, 11 of whom have appeared in an NHL game and seven of whom have played for the Devils.

The organization's first ninth-round pick was Joe Baker (128th overall) in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one was Joey Tenute (261st overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

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 the Eighth Round

5. Scott Clemmensen – 215th Overall 1997

NHL stats: 191 GP / 73-59-24 / .905 SV% - 2.79 GAA

New Jersey stats: 68 GP / 40-32-19 / .908 SV% - 2.60 GAA

The Devils have drafted three goalies in the eighth round, and only Scott Clemmensen made it into the NHL. He debuted in 2001-02 and didn't earn a decent amount of starts until his second tour of duty with the Devils in 2008-09.

Clemmensen also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, skating in three games for New Jersey in 2014-15, his third stint with the club before retiring.

Shortly after his playing days, Clemmensen was offered a Goalie Development Coaching role with the Devils and now serves as the Director of Player Development.

4. Jim Dowd – 149th Overall 1987

NHL stats: 728 GP – 71 G – 168 A – 239 Pt s

New Jersey stats: 121 GP – 14 G – 27 A – 41 Pt s

Jim Dowd was drafted by New Jersey in 1987 and won an NCAA Championship in 1988 while finishing as a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 1991 while skating at Lake Superior State University.

After three seasons in the AHL, Dowd earned his chance in the Devils' lineup and was part of the team that won the 1995 Stanley Cup.

Even though his first time in East Rutherford was short (55 games), he went to play with nine NHL teams, suiting up for a career-high 283 games with the Minnesota Wild.

3. Willie Mitchell – 199th Overall 1996

NHL stats: 907 GP – 34 G – 146 A – 180 Pt s

New Jersey stats: 18 GP – 0 G – 2 A – 2 Pt s

Willie Mitchell had a brief tenure with the Devils, skating in just 18 games from 1999 to 2001. He was dealt to the Wild and spent time in Dallas and Vancouver.

As a free agent in 2010, Mitchell signed with the Los Angeles Kings and won the Stanley Cup twice in 2012 and 2014. After the parade, he signed with the Florida Panthers, where he served as captain in his final two seasons.

Internationally, Mitchell won a World Championship with Canada in 2004.

2. Stephane Yelle – 186th Overall 1992

NHL stats: 725 GP – 49 G – 201 A – 250 Pt s

New Jersey stats: 52 GP – 2 G – 15 A – 17 Pt s

Stephane Yelle is the most veteran player drafted by the Devils from the eighth round, skating in 991 games, yet didn't spend time with the franchise that selected him.

During his 14-year career, Yelle skated in Colorado, winning two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, before relocating to Calgary, Boston, and Carolina.

Yelle scored a career-high 10 goals twice, received some votes for the Calder Trophy in 1996, and the Selke Trophy six times, with a top-10 finish in 2006.

1. Viacheslav Fetisov – 145th Overall 1983

NHL stats: 1,011 GP – 290 G – 457 A – 747 Pt s

New Jersey stats: 58 GP – 15 G – 21 A – 36 Pt s

Viacheslav Fetisov is arguably one of the best players the Devils have ever drafted. Selected in the eighth round of the 1983 Entry Draft, the Russian superstar did not make his NHL debut until 1989-90.

In 1994-95, New Jersey dealt him to the Detroit Red Wings, playing against his former teammates in the Stanley Cup Final a few months later.

While in Detroit, Fetisov won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1997 and 1998, making him a member of the Triple Gold Club.

He won three World Junior Championships, seven World Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals, and a Canada Cup title on the international stage.

As one of the most distinguished professional hockey players of all time, Fetisov is in the Hockey Hall of Fame (2002) and the IIHF Hall of Fame (2005).