2019 Pre-Season Draft Review: Taxmanian Devils


Grade

C

Best Pick

Pick 6 – Connor Rozee

Selections

Pick Player UF Games UF Avg
6 Connor Rozee PA – B,F 17 71.9
31 Chayce Jones AD – C 1 50
41 Tarryn Thomas NM – C 2 62.5
51 Zak Butters PA – C 10 58.3
57 Tom Hickey WC – R 9 61.2
61 Riley Knight AD – C,F 12 71
71 Jack Sinclair SK – C 17 66.2
101 Jarrod Lienert PA – B 3 86
111 Nick Blakey SY – F 0 0
121 Stephen Hill FR – B 0 0
131 Scott Selwood GE – C 2 83.5
141 Billy Stretch ME – C 5 68.2
151 Patrick Lipinski WB – C,F 8 72.1
161 Jez McLennan GC – B 0 0
171 Darcy Lang CA – C,F 0 0
181 Teia Miles HW – B 0 0
191 Nick Robertson BL – B 0 0

Summary

New coach Max spent last pre-season radically overhauling his list. The Devils shipped out Shaun Higgins, Brad Ebert, and the right to draft Sam Walsh, for pick 6, Dion Prestia, Michael Hurley, Kade Kolodjashnij, Cam Rayner, Hunter Clark, and Brayden Maynard.

With pick 6 they snared Rozee, whose stellar debut season suggests he’ll be a central pillar for the team in coming years. Given his performance, and Prestia’s breakout, the Devils probably don’t regret effectively passing on Walsh. Butters is another likely keeper. Knight and Sinclair aren’t players you want to hang your hat on, but they did an admirable job for the rebuilding Devils throughout the season.

That’s where the positives end – and it’s a stretch to call Knight and Sinclair positives. There are lots of other intriguing names on this list, but none of them are still with the Devils. Second selection Chayce Jones was sent to the Soliders for Wil Powell and a swap of picks. Powell had some strong games early before injury derailed his season, so we’ll hold judgement on this deal for now.

Tarryn Thomas is an interesting prospect, who was dropped, picked up by the Defenestrators, and traded to the Vipers.

Linpinski is the big one though – I’m sure the Devils wished they had held onto him.

Most of the team’s rebuilding efforts have come through trades, but I’m sure they would’ve liked to come away with more assets from this draft.