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 44 players in the seventh round, 11 of whom have appeared in an NHL game and nine of whom have played for the Devils.
The organization's first seventh-round pick was Mike Boland (110th overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one was Artem Barabosha (198th overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
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 Seventh Round
5. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond – 216th Overall 2004
NHL stats: 41 GP – 0 G – 3 A – 3 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 37 GP – 0 G – 1 A – 1 Pt s
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond was an enforcer who played 41 games in the NHL and skated 5:13 minutes a night.
During his professional career, which included 486 contests in the AHL, he racked up 1,921 penalty minutes.
Despite not scoring a goal with the Devils, Calgary Flames, or Pittsburgh Penguins, he did collect 27 in the minors, giving him 73 career points.
4. Bill Oleschuk – 110th Overall 1975
NHL stats: 55 GP / 7-28-10 / .872 SV% - 3.98 GAA
New Jersey stats: 55 GP / 7-28-10 / .872 SV% - 3.98 GAA
Bill Oleschuk is one of three goalies drafted by the organization in the seventh round and is the only one to skate in more than two games, surpassing Chad Erickson in that category.
Oleschuk skated with the Kansas City Scouts for one game and relocated to Colorado with his teammates in 1976. He played with the Rockies for three seasons, appearing in a career-high 40 games in 1978-79.
He earned his first NHL win against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 21, 1978. Although Oleschuk briefly played in the league, he suited up for more games in the CHL and IHL, retiring in 1984.
3. Jeff Larmer – 129th Overall 1981
NHL stats: 158 GP – 37 G – 51 A – 88 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 113 GP – 28 G – 38 A – 66 Pt s
Jeff Larmer was a one-time 20-goal scorer, reaching a career-high of 21 in 1982-83, the first year the franchise was in East Rutherford.
In three seasons with the organization, he scored 66 points before a trade to the Chicago Blackhawks in January 1984.
Although his tenure in Chicago didn't yield the same results, with just 22 points in 45 games, Larmer found some success in the AHL, IHL, and Europe before retiring in 1994.
2. Chris McAlpine – 137th Overall 1990
NHL stats: 289 GP – 6 G – 24 A – 30 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 24 GP – 0 G – 3 A – 3 Pt s
Chris McAlpine played in 289 games and just 24 with the Devils in 1994-95, enough to earn a Stanley Cup ring when New Jersey won that year.
After four seasons at the University of Minnesota, McAlpine played eight seasons in the NHL with St. Louis, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
At the same time, McAlpine suited up for several franchises in the AHL, where he played in the league's All-Star Game in 1997.
1. Kevin Todd – 129th Overall 1986
NHL stats: 383 GP – 70 G – 133 A – 203 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 112 GP – 26 G – 47 A – 73 Pt s
Kevin Todd is the most recognized name among seventh-round picks in team history since he won All-Rookie honors in 1992.
Even though he finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting, thanks to a 63-point season, Todd never reached 20 goals again in the following eight seasons.
Outside of his Devils stint, Todd played in Edmonton, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Anaheim.
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