Four Sixth Round Targets for the New Jersey Devils
With their two sixth-rounders, the Devils should target these four players.
Four-ish weeks ago, I started my many-part series deep-diving potential draft day fits for the Devils at all rounds of the draft — from the Devils’ two second-rounders (~50th and ~64th) to their sixth-rounders, I’m compiling a list of players I’d be pounding the table for on draft day should they be available. Naturally, I’ve focused more on the earlier stages of the draft, as that is where there is the most talent and intrigue. However, I do have my list of scouting reports and notes for players I think will be available come the end of the draft, too, which I am excited to share with you.
Targets so far:
50th Overall (Rd. 2): Adam Benák, Alexander Zharovsky, Ethan Czata, Conrad Fondrk, Cameron Schmidt
63rd Overall (Rd. 2): Theo Stockselius, LJ Mooney, Tomáš Pobežal, Filip Ekberg
90th Overall (Rd. 3): Philippe Veilleux, Mateo Nobert, Maxim Agafanov
99th Overall (Rd. 4): Aidan Lane, Max Westergård, Drew Schock
114th Overall (Rd. 4): Bruno Idžan, Viggo Nordlund, Maddox Labre
161st Overall (Rd. 6): Liam Danielsson, Matouš Kucharčík
178th Overall (Rd. 6): Maleek McGowan, Jonas Woo
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The New Jersey Devils possess two sixth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft: 161st and 178th overall.
When gauging players at this stage in the draft, typically, draftees are narrowed down with isolated tools and production. In some instances, players will have strong production in their respective leagues despite not having a standout skill. In other instances, a player will have one or two standout skills that scouts believe can translate to the NHL, but either the production is lacking or the other aspects of their game need drastic improvement.
With that in mind, I have identified four targets for the Devils with their sixth-round picks — two each for picks 161 and 178:
161st Overall
Liam Danielsson (RW)
Overagers are generally tougher to project by virtue of their toolkit being more ironed out than it was as a true draft-eligible. Still, Liam Danielsson’s production within the J20 Nationell and ability to fit in to the SHL are eye-opening, to say the least.
In 31 games in the J20, Danielsson put up 57 points — 15 goals and 42 assists — finishing second in the league in points per game behind consensus 2026 top-five pick Ivar Stenberg. In the SHL, though logging just two points in 26 games, Danielsson did not look out of place in the slightest.
In particular, as you would guess based purely on the box score numbers, Danielsson excels at playmaking. He anticipates the play quite well from an offensive point of view, doling out pucks to where they need to be proactively, rather than waiting for teammates to solidify their positioning. This holds true in both the offensive zone and through the neutral zone, where he is a solid transition option, not by proxy of controlling the puck himself, but because of his ability to seamlessly find teammates through coverage in transition.
A lack of individual playdriving is a legitimate concern, though, as Danielsson has neither the skating nor puckhandling chops to be a transition piece himself. He is far too reliant on teammates to enter the zone. His skating stance is too upright to generate the amount of power he needs to, lowering his ceiling in terms of both top speed and explosiveness.
Defensively, Danielsson generally positions himself well, and it’s clear that that was something he worked on from last season. He’s more engaged and more aggressive than he previously was, and was relied upon in defensive situations in the J20. In that regard, he did not look remotely out of place in the SHL, a men’s league.
As far as picks go for 161st overall, banking on production and isolated tools is usually a pretty good bet. In a vacuum, Danielsson’s facilitation skills are strong, even if that is at the expense of playdriving and skating. The constant production, defensive responsibility, playmaking chops, and ability to play in the SHL without being a liability are strong cases for picking him in the sixth round.
Matouš Kucharčík (C)
Next up is Matouš Kucharčík, a long, lanky center known for his well-rounded game. He spent his 2024-25 season between the Czech U20 league and Czechia2, the second-tier pro league in his country.
I don’t have much to say pertaining to his shot or playmaking abilities, as I think there’s more of a no-nonsense mentality with Kucharčík than pure dynamic skill. His off-puck habits feed his point production. He supports play well on both ends, and in the offensive zone in particular, makes waves due to his positioning more than what he does with the puck on his stick. On occasion, he showed flashes of some puckhandling ability or savviness with body fakes and manipulation, but he is going to need to further develop that part of his game. His skating is just fine for a player of his stature (6’3, 164 pounds), with some explosiveness and agility and a superb motor to his game.
From a defensive perspective, Kucharčík plays a mature game. His non-stop motor lends itself well to backchecking effectively, being a turnover-generating machine in the neutral zone, and when the opposition is playing patiently off the rush. Once established in the defensive zone, Kucharčík is strong in his positioning and, more often than not, refrains from overcommitting and leaving gaps in coverage. He has an active stick and keeps his body between the puck carrier and his own goal at nearly all times. The only defensive deficiency I’ve noticed from him is a lack of authority along the boards, particularly from a player who is 6’3. Part of that is that he hasn’t filled out yet — he likely has room for an additional 30-ish pounds, and he will develop strength as he continues to pack on pounds.
I’m personally a pretty big fan of Kucharčík. Considering that he has quite a way to bulk up, which I’m certain he will do over the next couple of years, the maturity and mentality are solid enough reasons to strongly consider him at 161st overall (if he’s still available). His size is great, his on-ice disposition is top-notch, and, with a bit of time, he will only strengthen what makes him an appealing draftee tools-wise. There is legitimate fourth-line center upside.
178th Overall
Maleek McGowan (LHD)
Maleek McGowan is one of the more interesting case studies in the latest rounds of the draft. On one hand, he’s already 20 years old, in his D+2 season in the OHL, and only scored 30 points in 56 games. On the other hand, his tracked data is elite, and he has some tantalizing skills in his kit.
The 6’0, 190-pound left-handed defenseman’s best tool is his skating. McGowan’s stride is long, and he possesses a deep-set posture, giving him strong power generation with each movement. He lacks some agility, but more than makes up for it with a high-end top speed and a level of explosiveness rare among defensemen.
With that skating aptitude comes innate confidence, which McGowan uses in several ways. One, he is extremely prone to jumping into the play, activating up the offensive zone at will, and even contributing on some breakaway opportunities. Two, he loves the puck on his stick in transition, even though his generally lackluster hands prevent him from succeeding as much as he could if he improved in that facet of his game. Still, he is a threat in transition.
Defensively, McGowan profiles as one of the OHL’s best. It may be because he is more mature than his competition, but he has a solid sense of when and where to be to stymy a play before it even begins. His skating lends itself well to gap coverage and entry denials, as he is able to use his four-way mobility to keep himself within striking distance of the puck or body at all times.
McGowan is extremely physical, too, not shying away from laying the body whenever he can. He’s aggressive in his body checks, pursuing opposing forwards in open ice before laying the boom. Along the boards, he outmuscles forecheckers and almost always comes out with the puck because of how physically domineering he is.
The concerns with drafting him lie not with his toolkit, per se, but in the age gap. Drafting him is contingent on whether or not you believe that his domination of the competition at his level is a byproduct of his tools or a byproduct of his age. Personally, I believe the former, and I think there is a solid chance for a bottom-pairing defenseman here.
Jonas Woo (RHD)
Another day, another diminutive player on one of my draft lists. Jonas Woo, a 5’9, 165-pound right-shot defenseman, had a strong season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, logging 43 points in 57 games.
As you would expect, skating is Woo’s strong suit, being able to walk the blue line like few in the WHL can. His shiftiness and agility are high-end; he can and does pull coverage to him before manipulating them with head fakes and savvy, subtle movements to put them out of position.
With that in mind, though, Woo does need to add a level of playmaking to his game for me to really consider him a high-end offensive talent. Even with his shiftiness, he lacks strong playmaking chops and keeps his passing plays simple. I haven’t seen him use creativity or activate into the play a whole lot, and that’s a problem for a guy his size.
Woo’s defensive game, though, is solid, especially considering his frame. He is assertive along the boards, coming out with possession more often than not in battles. His stickwork is strong, being able to take away passing and shooting lanes and generally disrupting play with poke checks and stick lifts. His positioning is solid, and he is unafraid of paying the price to keep a shot out of his own net.
Woo’s NHLer and star probabilities are both overinflated to me, as I don’t think there’s an easy path to the big leagues for him at all. For one, there’s a chance he doesn’t get drafted, period. Secondly, without a level of dynamism in his play, his ceiling as an offensive playdriver from the back end is limited, and that’s what is likely most appealing about his game, considering his skating ability. Still, at 178th overall, he’s as solid a bet as any, and with some improvements in certain aspects of his game (physicality and creativity), he has the potential to be a strong pick.
There you have it, four players the Devils should consider with their two sixth-round picks. Liam Danielsson and Matouš Kucharčík present as strong options in the early stages of the round, by virtue of either their production and playmaking (Danielsson) or by their room for physical growth and already mature two-way game (Kucharčík). Near to the end of the round, at 178th overall, the Devils should strongly consider both Maleek McGowan and Jonas Woo. With McGowan, the skating, confidence, and aggression are tantalizing, but there is concern that he will stagnate early because of his status as a double-overager. Woo’s skating is a true strength, as is his defensive maturity, but the lack of size and dynamism probably drastically limits his ceiling.
Tune in tomorrow for my 2025 Devils’ mock draft, the final installment of my pre-draft series.