Leading up to the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, all eyes will be on New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/inside-the-nhl-combine-what-devils-fans-need-to-know]general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who has publicly stated he is willing to move his 10th overall pick. "If we feel it helps us now and in the foreseeable future, then, yes, I'm listening," Fitzgerald said to NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-open-to-dealing-no-10-pick-in-2024-nhl-draft]. "I haven't gotten anything yet, but the more I talk to teams, I say, 'Listen, I'm open to moving No. 10, but it's going to have to be something (significant).'" With the Devils coming off a lackluster 2023-24 campaign, it would be reasonable to believe that Fitzgerald will trade his pick for a player who can make an immediate impact in New Jersey, whether a goaltender, forward, or defenseman. But what if, after all the conversations and phone calls, Fitzgerald still possessed the 10th overall selection? On June 13, NHL.com released their Mock 2024 NHL Draft [https://www.nhl.com/news/mock-2024-nhl-draft-opinions-vary-after-1st-2-picks], where deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and senior draft writer Mike G. Morreale predicted how the first round could shake out. Kimelman has the Devils selecting center Konsta Helenius, while Morreale has center Berkly Catton going to New Jersey. "(Helenius) profiles as a good mix of Jack Hughes [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/jack-hughes-8481559]' offensive ability with Nico Hischier [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/nico-hischier-8480002]'s determination and competitiveness," Kimelman wrote. "And he's already shown he can make an impact playing with and against older competition, finishing with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 51 games in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland." During an exclusive interview with The Hockey News, Morreale spoke about Catton and which current NHL player he can be compared to. "My comparable for Berkly is (Utah Hockey Club's) Clayton Keller [https://www.nhl.com/utah/player/clayton-keller-8479343]," he said. "He's got that playmaking ability, goes up and down the ice, can go down the wings. He is not going to play in the NHL next year, maybe two or three years down the road, but if he is playing alongside a Timo Meier, Hughes, or Hischier, he is going to dig for pucks, and he is going to get pucks. (Catton) is going to play physical and be in your face. He likes that style of game." Morreale also shared that the 18-year-old spent a week with the Hughes family a couple of years ago. "I learned when talking to him in the interviewing process that two summers ago, he spent a week with the Hughes family," he said. "Jack was not there, but he spent time with Luke and Quinn. Basically, he was playing with the Hughes family at the rink over there, so that was why he was living with them." Catton finished the season with a team-leading 116 points (54 goals, 62 assists) in 68 games for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). As Morreale reported, "Catton became the third WHL draft-eligible skater since 2000 to top 115 points in a season, joining Bedard (143 points in 2022-23) and Nic Petan (120 in 2012-13). Catton also won 53.4 percent of his face-offs (724-for-1,355), led the WHL with seven short-handed goals, and was third for Spokane with 30 power-play points (13 goals, 17 assists)." Mike Morreale NHL Combine Interview Suppose Fitzgerald cannot find a trade partner before the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft on June 28 at 7 P.M. ET. In that case, he should take solace in knowing his organization will be drafting a terrific prospect who can eventually help his club or be part of a trade package to improve his roster down the line.
