A desire to win and a hatred to lose.
Those are only two of the traits that Mark Dennehy, the New Jesey Devils’ Chief Scout, and his team were looking for as they prepared for the 2025 NHL Draft.
"Our identity, we can't lose sight of it," Senior Vice President, Assistant General Manager Dan MacKinnon said. "If you look at every team left in the playoffs right now, they have a pretty definitive identity. They may move pieces in and out each offseason, but their identity does not change."
By Saturday evening, the Devils added seven new players to the organization, including Conrad Fondrk (50th overall), Ben Kevan (63rd overall), Mason Moe (90th overall), Trenten Bennett (99th overall), Gustav Hillström (118th overall), David Rozsíval (161st overall), and Sigge Holmgren (178th overall).
Moe, a 6-foot-2, 192-pound power forward, met with 12 NHL teams, including New Jersey, during the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo earlier this month. While the 18-year-old didn't know where he would end up, it became clear why he was on the Devils radar when asked about what type of player he is.
"I love to win, hate losing, and I want to compete and do what I can to help the team win,” he said over Zoom. "I will improve my weaknesses as a player and become the player I want to be. That will be my biggest focus throughout the year."
In addition to that willingness to compete, the Devils were also seeking a specific skill set.
"There needs to be a skill set, and also the ability to play fast," Dennehy said. "When you think of the Devils, you think of Jack Hughes. You think of Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Luke Hughes. These guys play fast, and so you need to be able to play fast."
Kevan was named one of the fastest skaters in the entire draft class with EliteProspects saying, "A speedster, Kevan burns defenders with non-stop crossovers and hands that match. He charges into space, only to cut back and find the trailer. If not, he works a give-and-go to burst through the defensive line. And he has a ton of flash, weaving through traffic, beating defenders, and pulling pucks through and around their feet before going to the net or creatively spinning a pass across the slot. Without the puck, Kevan’s speed is just as impactful. He chases down puck carriers to press them to the outside and steal possession. After passing, he skates his routes to create space for his teammates behind him and crashes the net for loose pucks."
New Jersey's first second round pick of the afternoon, Fondrk, is considered by the Devils organization a first round talent who had injuries affect where he was ultimately selected.
It will take years to see which of these players will develop into roster players for the Devils, but with time, New Jersey's front office staff will see which players have that competitveness they are looking for and commitment to improve the holes in their game to make to it to the next level.
The Devils will host their 2025 NHL Development Camp this upcoming week, and while the roster is not confirmed, a good contingent of players selected by the Devils is expected to attend.
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