Over the past few months, and as we approach the eve of the NHL draft in which our beloved Devils hold the #4 pick, I have been hearing the word "need" tossed around by NHL fans. When I hear the word need in regards to hockey, I think that a team has a lack of depth at a certain position and must address that. However, in regards to the draft, I believe all teams in all sports should take a different approach to the word "need". That is, personnel associated with an organization should draft the best player available to them in any draft (nonwithstanding any trades that occur before or after the pick that may move the draft pick to another team or move a team up/back in the draft). In other words, a team's "need" is to pick the best player they can. In particular, I have been hearing that the Devils should draft Adam Larsson because the Devils "need" a franchise defenseman. When I hear this, I shake my head. Larsson is a great player, but if Ryan Nugent Hopkins fell to the Devils at #4 tonight, the Devils would draft him because he is the best player available tonight. Nugent Hopkins will not be available at #4 tonight, but I was just providing some perspective. Regardless of whether or not Larsson falls to us at #4, the Devils should pick the best player available because he can do the most good for the organization in the long run.