4 Players The Devils Should Target With the 12th Pick in the 2026 NHL Draft – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

During tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery, it was officially revealed that the New Jersey Devils will have the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, which will take place on June 26 in Buffalo, New York. Of course, with the Devils struggling to score in 2025-26, they it should willing to deal with the choice at the right price.

But if a deal doesn’t work out, there are some great options available at #12. Here are the most interesting ones:

There is no guarantee that Ethan Belchetz (or any of these players, for that matter) will still be on the board. But 15 drafts with a good name have gotten him to a 10.4 rating – as high as #5 and as low as #16.

Belchetz may not have the same stats as other top picks being considered; had 59 points (34 G, 25 A) in 57 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). It’s nothing to scoff at but it’s nothing short of amazing…until you consider that he’s 6-foot-5 and can still grow as he doesn’t turn 19 until March 30th.

Like Beckett Sennecke (6-foot-4) in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Belchetz shoot up draft boards as the night draws near. It usually takes players of that size a very long time to grow into their body, and we saw Sennecke do so successfully with 60 points in his first NHL season.

“Belchetz is a unicorn in terms of his combination of physicality and offensive ability. He is strong in puck battles, especially near the boards or down low below the goal. He can easily bully his way into dangerous areas, show great strength and puck-saving skills for scoring opportunities. He can produce and is a player who will make your life difficult on the offensive and puck barreling. Teams love that combination of size and skill and Belchetz brings that. consistently.”

– Peter Baracchini, Hockey Writers

Belchetz missed Windsor’s last eight games, plus the playoffs, with a broken clavicle. The Devils could benefit if that, along with his stats, makes him slip up as a result.

Daxon Rudolph could be drafted before the Devils have a chance. Jokes has him going at #13, but given his production and recent discussion, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him break into the top ten.

Rudolph, a defenseman, had an impressive 78 points (28 G, 50 A) in 68 games, and a plus-32 average. There doesn’t seem to be any real brilliance, which is why consistency seems to always push him to the top of the ridiculous.

Daxon Rudolph leads the WHL playoffs in hitting… and he did it in a pinch tonight

3 points so far in game 2. 5 in 2 games. Red is hot. pic.twitter.com/ZwdYxsGpZX

– Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 29, 2026

His one criticism is nitpicky – he can be a bit physical given his size, yet remains an effective shutdown defender. He’s not as strong or flexible as Cale Makar but those total points alone, combined with his stellar defensive work, basically make up for it. down of the top-four defender.

“I think that Daxon, among all the players in this upcoming program, has been one of the best players. [He has a] tough, competitive, tough game, great leader, great competitor and, I’ll be honest, I didn’t give him enough credit for his skill level.”

– Craig Button, TSN

Many fans and commentators alike will see Ryan Lin’s 5-foot-11 height and run away. But watching any of Lin’s highlight reels — or better yet, a full game — will be immediately turn off size-related concerns.

Lin posted 57 points (14 G, 43 A) in 53 games off a Vancouver Giants team that finished last in the Western Conference — 152 goals fewer than the league’s best team. First of all, there is an offensive talent that is clear only in his photos. In fact, in 2024-25, he had the most points (53) by a 16-year-old WHL defenseman since Scott Niedermayer.

Ryan Lin will be knocking for “little D”. But he plays far from small

Puck-moving and skating are key NHL features, but he’s also very smart and efficient in the DZ.

Wins battles, initiates communication, defends the chase. I liked what I saw here:pic.twitter.com/b6JLUiIjTd

– Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) October 14, 2025

In addition, he succeeds in almost all defensive areas and always starts to connect with players with a very large body. He is a star in transition that fits well with the core of the Devils.

If you were looking at the numbers alone, you would think that Lin is a strong defender for his size that could catch on. In fact, he is arguably the most complete player in the 2026 NHL Draft.

– Justin Giampietro, Hockey Writers

Time and time again, stubborn NHL scouts have shied away from young players for fear of how their game will translate. New Devils general manager Sunny Mehta, who had Jesper Bratt (#162 overall) ranked as the third best player in the 2016 NHL Draft, probably wouldn’t let that worry him too much.

Of those same targets, Lin is drafted at an average of #15 overall. But under the hood, he looks like a top-five talent if it weren’t for his size. Committed to Denver University (NCAA).

The first round will take place just one night before Nikita Klepov’s 18th birthday – all signs point to him getting a great early present. The question is: are the Devils the ones who will give him that gift?

While it’s a bit understated, the offensive skill set — the ability to shoot and play — is definitely there for Klepov. His 97 points (37 G, 60 A) led the way complete The OHL, which includes all 73 senior prospects drafted by NHL teams. His NHLE of 38.3, which puts his goals at the NHL par, ranked him third in the entire class, behind only top consensus pick Gavin McKenna (39.8) and Markus Ruck (39.3).

Nothing is guaranteed; a player needs to put in the work for the results to translate, but players like Logan Stankoven, Leo Carlsson, Seth Jarvis, William Eklund and Dylan Guenther all had a very similar level of NLe; that team has averaged ~0.78 points per game in the NHL this season (~64 point pace).

The only real knock on Klepov, aside from his size, is his ability to stay involved in the defensive zone. The same was true for the likes of Jarvis and Trevor Zegras, who finished ninth and 13th respectively, instead of the top five. They went well.

“There are times when he’s not fully effective and finds himself a spectator. But overall, he has a solid two-way game and still makes an impact on both ends of the ice, even when his production may not be there (which isn’t often).”

– Jordan Orth, Hockey Writers

A clear top five offensive line means that even if he is no longer a star, he can still be a very useful player for the Devils. Committed to Michigan State (NCAA); scouts seem more divided on Klepov than others but most mockers put him between 16-18. If Mehta and Devili introduced him personally the way the NHLe did, and were surprised by his interview, it shouldn’t be considered a reach. Mehta and others. it should be relied upon until evidence to the contrary is found.

Looking Forward

The decision the Devils make with this pick – whether it’s a draft or a trade, for better or for worse, will play an important role in the franchise’s future. Also, Mehta and co. He deserves the full trust of the fans. The Devils will also have picks in rounds two (#44), four (#108), five (#140) and six (#172).