The Devils are evaluating their options with the No. 1 overall pick in June's Draft, and they will do so through June's NHL Draft Combine up to the June 23 Draft in Chicago.

Forwards Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier have been the consensus top two prospects on Draft Boards all winter, and like many others, the Devils are evaluating them.

There is still plenty to decide, but Devils Director of Amateur Scouting Paul Castron gave NJ Advance Media a scouting report on the two prospects.

Patrick missed a good portions of the 2016-17 season battling separate injuries, but he was one season removed from posting 102 points and winning WHL MVP over other 2016 Draft-eligible players. Castron touted Patrick's variety of tools that elevates him from others.

"He's a big centerman with scoring touch, a play-making touch, but also is very responsible away from the puck, which is nice to see," Castron told NJ Advance Media. "A lot of times in juniors, you get players who are only concentrating on getting points and putting up points. He's a very well-rounded player at a young age."

Patrick also comes from a hockey family that is plenty familiar with the first round of NHL Drafts. His father, Steve, was drafted 20th overall in the 1980 Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, and his uncle, James, went ninth overall in the 1981 Draft to the New York Rangers.

"He's got the blood line," Castron said. "So he's got some nice people to lean on for hockey advice. He's definitely a very, very skilled offensive player."

Meanwhile, Hischier came over to play in North America for the first time in 2016-17, but Castron said the Swiss forward made a seamless transition to junior hockey in Quebec. So much so that Castron said he carried his Halifax team to the QMJHL postseason.

"He was on a bit of a weaker team that probably wasn't expected to do much, and he was a big reason why they were able to make the playoffs," Castron said. "He's another player who really does compete on both sides of the puck. He's maybe a little more dynamic in the way he scores and sets up plays."

Hischier was injured for a smaller stretch in the second half of the 2016-17 season, but he finished 86 points in 57 regular season games, adding on to his eye-opening performance in January's World Juniors Championship.

In comparisons, Patrick has drawn more praise for his two-way game, but Castron said Hischier also has a strong presence on both sides of the puck.

"He just plays the game with so much intensity and brings a high-end skill level with him," Castron said. "He's one of those kids, he wants the puck in pressure situations and he wants to make a difference, and the majority of the time, he does make a difference.

Castron continued to say Patrick carries some of those same qualities in his game, and both players have displayed the ability to be game changers on the ice.

"Both those kids, they've the go-to guys on their teams. They both get a lot of attention, but they don't back down or shy away to make plays at crucial times in games," Castron said. "That's something for top players, it's a special quality to have. Both have that quality. They make their teammates all around them better."

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.