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, the Devils have drafted 51 players in the fourth round, 22 of whom have appeared in an NHL game and 20 of whom have played for Kansas City, Colorado (Rockies), and New Jersey.
The organization's first fourth-round pick was Roger Lemelin (56th overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one was Cam Squires (122nd overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Join us 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 Fourth Round
5. Cam Janssen – 117th Overall 2002
NHL stats: 336 GP – 6 G – 8 A – 14 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 171 GP – 4 G – 1 A – 5 Pt s
Cam Janssen played 336 games in the NHL, skating with New Jersey on two separate occasions from 2005 to 2007 and then from 2011 to 2014.
Initially a fourth-round draft pick, he won an OHL championship in 2004, a year after leading the league in penalty minutes.
Between his stints with the Devils, Janssen played with the St. Louis Blues and scored six career goals. While in the NHL, he skated several years in the AHL, finishing his professional career in Switzerland, where he won the EIHL title.
4. Miles Wood – 100th Overall 2013
NHL stats: 476 GP – 87 G – 87 A – 174 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 402 GP – 78 G – 70 A – 148 Pt s
Miles Wood finished his first season (26 points) with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24, opting to sign with the club as a free agent in the summer of 2023.
Now a nine-year NHL veteran, Wood played his first eight seasons with the Devils, who drafted him 100th overall at the 2013 Entry Draft.
His best season came in 2017-18 when he netted 19 goals and 32 points.
3. Alyn McCauley – 79th Overall 1995
NHL stats: 488 GP – 69 G – 97 A – 166 Pt s
New Jersey stats: Did not play
New Jersey drafted Alyn McCauley in the fourth round of the 1995 Entry Draft. However, he never dressed with the organization, becoming part of a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs that brought Doug Gilmour to East Rutherford in 1997.
During his nine NHL seasons, McCauley scored 69 goals and 166 points while skating with the Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings.
Before playing professionally, he won back-to-back U20 World Junior Championship gold medals in 1996 and 1997. In 1997, he was named CHL Player of the Year, OHL Outstanding Player, and Most Sportsmanlike Player.
2. Ron Delorme - 56th Overall 1975
NHL stats: 524 GP – 83 G – 83 A – 166 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 314 GP – 66 G – 63 A – 129 Pt s
Don Delorme never made it into a Devils uniform, claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1982 Waiver Draft before the Rockies transferred to New Jersey.
During his time with Colorado, he was a one-time 20-goal scorer (1979) and had a career-high of 43 points in 1980.
The native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, played with the Canucks for four seasons, retiring from the NHL in 1985. Immediately following his announcement, he joined Vancouver's scouting department, a role he's still in, in 2024.
1. Paul Ysebaert – 74th Overall 1983
NHL stats: 532 GP – 149 G – 187 A – 336 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 21 GP – 5 G – 9 A – 14 Pt s
Of all the fourth-round draft picks in New Jersey history, Paul Ysebaert is the most veteran skater, appearing in over 500 games and collecting 336 points with five NHL franchises.
During his 11-year career, Ysebaert was traded four times. He ended up with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1994-95 and became the club's first captain in 1995-96.
While in the AHL, he won the league's scoring title and was named MVP in 1990 with the Utica Devils.
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