NEWARK, NJ – “I think you’re going to like this.”
Those were the words New Jersey Devils fans heard over the speakers around the Prudential Center from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Bettman had prior announced that New Jersey initiated a trade to move its ninth overall draft pick. It took the winds out of the sails from most of the arena, which was filled with black and red attire in hopes for another top 10 pick in the draft.
It would have marked the second top 10 pick Jersey selected in the last two years (2011, Adam Larsson) – something that Devils fans hadn’t witnessed since 1989-1991 when Jersey was able to select two top 10 picks during a similar time frame.