Most successful teams, in every sport, have a core of featured stars. Conversely, very few champion pedigree clubs are comprised of role players whose sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Collecting several top shelf players is the way to move up the ladder in the NHL.
Before the NHL Draft Lottery, collecting assets seemed like a solid strategy for the Devils. They were a ways away, and it was a good way to build for the future. Now, with the addition of Nolan Patrick, who most assume is the logical player to select first overall, the New Jersey Devils unexpectedly have one more piece of the puzzle in place a lot sooner than expected.