2018 NHL mock draft: Eastern Conference teams

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LONDON, ON – DECEMBER 4: Ty Dellandrea #53 of the Flint Firebirds skates against Olli Juolevi #4 of the London Knights during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on December 4, 2016 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Firebirds 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

17. New Jersey Devils – Ty Dellandrea

Until they prove otherwise, taking a player from the Flint Firebirds will always be considered a risk. After all, this is a team that walked out on their owner three years ago. Things have gotten better since the OHL took over but the team has only made the playoffs once since their move from Plymouth.

Dellandrea wasn’t on that team that walked out, arriving the next season. He has amassed 24 and 59 points in two seasons with the Firebirds. After the team traded away Ryan Moore and Dallas Stars prospect Nicholas Caamano to Hamilton, the spotlight was on Dellandrea and for the most part he succeeded.

He needs to get better at faceoffs and needs to improve in the defensive zone. Now, those deficiencies may be magnified playing on a team like the Firebirds so the hope is that he can improve in those areas. The common thread for the team is that they end up trading their best players and they usually get even better. Will that be the case for Dellandrea?

One scout said this about Dellandrea in The Hockey News Draft Preview issue,

"“He’s rising up the charts. Flint is a mediocre team and he’s their best player. If you put him on the Soo, he’d be every bit as good as Barrett Hayton. He’s very smart, very skilled and he’s a great competitor.”"

The Devils are a team on the rise and should take a flyer on Dellandrea. He is another player that could end up being a steal down the road.

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