Gregor: When you go to a top-10 or even a top-five pick, and we do see historically that there is a drop-off. How do you find where that drop-off is? Is it noticeable from an experienced scout as yourself as much as it seems to be when you read all of those mock drafts?

Conte: I try not to be influenced by that. We try to categorize and quantify the value of each particular pick and see where those drop-offs are and try to adjust accordingly. So try to move forward, try to stay where you are or move backwards. Again, there is too much of this talk. It’s great for you and it’s great for the fans, but for those of us who have to make an absolute decision, it’s kind of better to rely on our own knowledge, on our own scouting reports, and our own people and basically sequester ourselves to making the choice that we think is right for the New Jersey Devils. I suppose that what might be popular with the media, or popular with the fans, or even popular with your coaches sometimes, might not be what we see. This is a pick that will impact, especially when picking ninth, this franchise for a long time to come. It is easier to get caught up in the up-and-down rankings because you are only waiting nine turns, but I also think it’s far more important to pick correctly because you have less room for error.

Continued