After making three trades in the second and third rounds to select Mikhail Yegorov and Kasper Pikkarainen, the New Jersey Devils held on to their 91st overall pick and picked up Herman Traff, a big Swedish right wing. In the 2023–24 season, Traff split time between HV71 J20 in the Swedish J20 Nationell (26 games), HV71 in the SHL (10 games), and Vasteras IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan (8 games on loan). Looking at performance alone, Traff isn't going to go away – he's a third-rounder, after all. With 21 points in the J20 league, 0 points in the SHL, and three points in the Allsvenskan, Traff is likely to be more of a long-term project.

But how does the young man play the game? Tom Fitzgerald has made it his mission to build a team that is tough to play against, and Traff fits that mold. He is 6'3″ and already weighs 215 pounds. For The Hockey Writers, Stefano Rubino had this to say about him in his scouting report:

Traff has excellent ice vision and can make quality passes. Although he focuses more on scoring goals, his playmaking skills also allow him to set up plays. He has a solid, accurate shot and can easily shoot from anywhere on the ice. Additionally, he is adept at positioning himself in front of the net to create scoring opportunities.

Traff is projected as a third or fourth line winger in the future who can play a physical game while also contributing to more goals. If you want to watch some of his games against top competition, Deep Sea Hockey posted a shift tape of him on YouTube just a few hours ago. Be warned – he won't be scoring any goals, as he failed to score in his mediocre stint in the top Swedish league. But it might give you some insight when evaluating selection.

Given that, I tend to like the pick. Traff is a guy who will get time to grow in professional Swedish leagues, and from what I can tell from his trade record, he puts himself in good positions to facilitate puck movement and seems hungry for dirty goals. With good development, it would be nice to see Traff join the Utica Comets in a few years before potentially factoring into the Devils' long-term prospects for a final-six spot.

But what do you think about the pick? Be sure to cast your vote in the poll below, which closes tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Also, leave your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for more on the draft today.