As everyone in the hockey world expected, the New Jersey Devils selected Jack Hughes with the first overall pick, leaving Kaapo Kakko to the New York Rangers. There had been some speculation that the Devils would go against the grain and pick Kakko, but they chose to stay with the consensus best player in the draft.
It became a reality a 8:18pm EST when Devils GM Ray Shero strode to the microphone and called Martin Brodeur to the podium. Brodeur proclaimed “With the overall first pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils are proud to select from the U.