DitD & Open Post - 5/6/26: No. 12 Edition

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: Detailed view of the draft board is shown following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at the NHL Network Studio on May 5, 2026 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

No. 12 it is:

Should the Devils bet long-term on Arseny Gritsyuk? “Yes, committing long-term after just 66 NHL games carries risk. But there are some strong indicators Gritsyuk is a player worth betting on.” [Infernal Access ($)]

“The Devils aren’t in rebuild mode, so drafting isn’t the priority it would be if they had top-five picks from year to year. Still, they will need some young talent to complement their core in the future, something Fitzgerald failed to properly address as the Devils’ GM.” [Devils on the Rush]

Hockey Links

Calder Trophy finalists:

“Jim Rutherford plans to step down as the Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations after the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, but will help hire the next general manager first.” [NHL.com]

Scott Wheeler’s latest draft rankings: “Wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg remain my top two prospects, which has been the case on all of my lists. They’re followed by half a dozen defensemen, a trio of centers and another pair of wingers to form a clear-cut top 13 prospects in this year’s class for me.” [The Athletic ($)]

Now that we know a good chunk of the draft order, it’s mock draft season: [Daily Faceoff] [The Athletic ($)]

“Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence in the final weeks of the season was caused by a need to address his mental health.” [Associated Press]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.