There are five days left until the NHL Draft and while much of the focus is always on the first day when teams choose their first round picks, it ends up being the second day the makes or breaks how a team's draft is viewed years later. A team can only rely on first round picks for so much production. The second day of the draft features round two through seven, with lesser known players selected and in most cases not heard from for years, if not ever. But as we all know those players can play pivotal roles in an organization. Just think that two of the top performers for the Devils in 2011-12 were second day selections, Mark Fayne (5th round 2005) and Calder Trophy Finalist Adam Henrique (3rd round 2008).

Today, I try and introduce you to some players who the Devils might be looking at during the second day of the draft. Last year I wrote up a mock draft of possible Devils day selections and thought it was a fun exercise. Out of the players I thought as possible targets, the Devils selected Reid Boucher (although I thought he would have been a 3rd round target instead of a 4th) so hopefully I can improve my hit ratio a bit. After the jump, I will look at a few players I think the Devils will be looking at with each of their day two selections.

To piece together this type of list, I just look at recent Devils drafting history to guide me. The Devils tend to draft players whose rights they would be able to hold onto longer. Those players are primarily those who have committed to the NCAA. Last year the Devils relied heavily on this model. Excluding 6th round pick Reece Scarlett out of Swift Current, all other Devils day two selections were slated to head to the NCAA.

The Devils have also shown a tendency to draft players who have flexible playing circumstances. A player like Alexander Urbom is a great example. Drafted as a European player (who had already agreed to play in the CHL) he had the flexibility to play in the AHL as well, getting around the CHL/AHL agreement that players under 20 who had been drafted by a NHL team were only able to play in the AHL after their CHL club's season ended. Players drafted from the USHL,BCHL,or OJHL have more flexibility as they can continue to play in those junior leagues or play in the NCAA where they are still eligible.

I really like the fact that the Devils have focused on drafting of college players. Besides the extended player rights a team receives (the club drafting a player who has committed to college has the players rights in most cases until August 15th of the year the player is slated to graduate college) the player is playing a better level of competition and a less rigorous schedule.

That all said, when developing the list below I kept in mind the Devils draft habits in combination with the idea that they would draft the 'best player available'. Utilizing information readily available from online scouting sources and draft guide information I purchased here are some players who I think the Devils may target during the second day of the 2012 draft.