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It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: skaters generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. For goaltenders, we’re capping it at 40 games because that’s still a significant amount for a position where games played are harder to come by. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re looking at the New Jersey Devils.

The New Jersey Devils are coming off a successful year on the promotion front, watching Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Alexander Holtz and Nico Daws play significant roles in the NHL.

However, with four key pieces graduating out of prospect status, the pipeline is on the lower end of the NHL right now. That’s to be expected, especially for a team that entered the 2023-24 season with high hopes – only to see the team plagued by injuries, lousy goaltending and a coaching change. It’s hard to have a more disappointing season than that for a franchise that expects so much more. But after acquiring Jacob Markstrom to pair up with Jake Allen, and with the returns of Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton to (hopeful) full-time duty, the Devils are ready to bounce back.

The Devils have a decent-at-best pipeline, with Anton Silayev and Seamus Casey leading the way. They also have six players 25 and under on the roster, making up most of the team’s core. Expect the Devils to be one of the most improved teams in 2024-25, knowing they still have some key pieces on the way.

One of the most interesting tidbits of this pipeline is just how many prospects they have in the top 10 from the fourth round and later. The Devils have built a bit of a reputation of betting on skill in later rounds, and if even a few of them pay off, they’ll be in a great spot. You can’t just rely on drafting early to build a competitive outfit, and if you can get actual NHL players late on Day 2, that’s a huge win for your scouting department.

Biggest Strengths

There’s no question about it; it’s all about defense. Silayev was a big get for them (literally) at No. 10 in the first round, giving them a serious shutdown option that some scouts compare to a less offensively inclined Zdeno Chara. I also like Seamus Casey, too, despite him being on the smaller side. Mix them in with Hughes and Nemec and I feel like their pipeline is in a good spot for the long run. I’m not sure if any of their other blueliners will make much of an impact at the next level, but those two alone really pull this group.

Biggest Weakness

Beyond Silayev, who could fit as a top-pairing support option alongside a more high-impact, two-way threat, the Devils are lacking real impact players. I like Casey, but he’s not a sure-bet to play a notable role in the NHL. I also think Hämeenaho has come a long way, but he’s far from a sure bet. When you graduate players to the next level, things like this happen, but it feels like there are mostly just support players in the system – you still need that, though.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Tom Fitzgerald
Dir. of Scouting: Paul Castron
Dir. of Player Development: Meghan Duggan
AHL Affiliate: Utica Comets
ECHL Affiliate: Adirondack Thunder

*Anton Silayev (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Anton Silayev, LHD, 18 (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 10th overall, first round in 2024

Of all the defensemen taken in 2024, Silayev was the best at actually playing defense, but he lacks the offensive stylings the others do. But the 6-foot-7 blueliner played some important minutes in the KHL while blocking shots, landing hits and showing off great skating for his size. There aren’t a whole lot of big defenders who can skate as well as Silayev does, and his ice time in the KHL is something that has never been seen by someone his age. He’s going to be a star in a few years, while giving a nice alternative to the more high-flying offensive stylings of Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec.

2. Seamus Casey, RHD, 20 (Utica, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 46th overall, second round in 2022

I like Casey a lot, and I think he could be a top-four player in the near future. Casey isn’t big at 5-foot-10, but he can definitely hit. And while he doesn’t do it often, it does give me hope that he’ll be one of the smaller blueliners that make it work. Casey is coming off of a monster season with 45 points in 40 games last year and helped USA win gold at the World Juniors, too. I wouldn’t have blamed the Devils had they traded Casey to bring in more immediate help at the NHL Trade Deadline but they clearly believe in him – and so do I. I’m excited to watch him with Utica.

3. Lenni Hämeenaho, RW, 19 (Assat, Liiga)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2023

*Lenni Hämeenaho (Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com/USA TODAY NETWORK)*

Count me as a Hämeenaho believer. Skating was an issue when he got drafted, and I feel like he has taken positive steps forward. So much so that it didn’t see to bother him in his second year of pro hockey, putting up 31 points in 46 games with Assat. He also had over a point per game with Finland’s U-20 team, which started with him putting on a show with a great performance at the World Junior Summer Showcase last year. I think Hämeenaho could be a decent middle-six threat for the Devils down the line, but I still want to see him fix his stride and add a bit more speed to his game to help truly unlock his potential.

4. Arseni Gritsyuk, RW, 23 (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 129th overall, fifth round in 2019

It’s been a long road for Gritsyuk, who was a later-round selection back in 2019. At the time he was just a decent producer in the Russian junior league who struggled with the physical game. But after registering 40 points in 2022-23 and on pace for closer to 50 this year had he played the full year with St. Petersburg, Gritsyuk is getting Devils fans excited. He has one more year on his KHL deal and could come over in the spring, but he still needs to prove he can be an all-around threat who can make some noise in the middle six. He’s much quicker and stronger than he was in his draft year, so his potential arrival next year could come at a perfect time for all parties.

5. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 18 (Omaha, USHL)

Acquired: Drafted 49th overall, second round in 2024

Yegorov was one of the busiest goaltenders in the 2024 NHL Draft, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on whom you talk to. The Belarus native has the mental game going for him, he can handle the heavy workload, but he also has the size. At 6-foot-5, that’s the frame NHL teams crave. Scouts want him to be quicker, but they also wonder if he deals with fatigue more than the average goalie based on his workload. From a raw skills perspective, though, he’s a good skater, has an excellent glove hand, covers a lot of the net and tracks pucks well, especially through traffic. Yegorov is positionally sound, and he’s one of the best at keeping pucks out of the net down low, thanks to his great leg span.

6. Adam Beckman, LW, 23 (Utica, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Minnesota Wild in 2024

Minnesota Wild forward Adam Beckman — *Adam Beckman (Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)*

After getting lost in Minnesota’s pipeline, Beckman has a chance for a fresh start with the Devils’ organization. He already has had some looks in the NHL, and could turn out to be an energy option with the ability to pot the odd goal every now and then with the Devils. Beckman is a smart player who can play a variety of roles, mainly as a bottom-six winger. He brings speed and some skill with the puck, although consistency is an issue. At worst, he’s a good AHL contributor, which is still needed. And if all goes well, maybe he’ll get some NHL games this year, too.

7. Topias Vilén, LHD, 21 (Utica, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 129th overall, fifth round in 2021

I thought Vilén deserved to go a bit higher in his draft year because he was a good skater who could shoot and loved the puck on his stick – even if he struggled as a passer. His added confidence with the puck allowed him to have a successful first year in North America last season, which saw him spend time in both the AHL and ECHL. Vilén still feels like a longshot to make the NHL, but he’s competitive, moves well, and makes fewer blunders than I remember from his junior days.

8. Josh Filmon, LW, 20 (Utica, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 166th overall, sixth round in 2022

Filmon just completed his final year with Swift Current, posting 27 goals and 64 points in 64 games. It was a step down from his 47-goal, 75-point run the previous year, but I feel like he did get a bit better defensively – even if I wouldn’t call it a strength of his right now. I also think we saw someone who was more willing to use his teammates than usual, as shown by the fact he had more assists than goals for the first time in his major junior career. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the size you’d like to see from a potential bottom-six forward, and he clearly knows how to score. This year, I want to see him get more engaged in his own zone and bring intensity to every shift.

9. Chase Stillman, RW, 21 (Utica, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 29th overall, first round in 2021

*Chase Stillman (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

A good chunk of this list is filled with guys taken after the second round; Stillman, though, is one of just two first-rounders. He wouldn’t go as high in a 2021 re-draft, but he’s still intriguing if he can round his game out just a bit more. He had 14 goals and 24 points in his first year with Utica while getting some valuable ice time in different facets of the game. Stillman has struggled for consistency in his career – when he’s not on it, he’s invisible. But he does like to send players through the boards, and he’s a good skater, too. He’s got the tools to be a bottom-six NHLer, but we need to see him producing more to show he’s worthy of a step up.

10. Kasper Pikkarainen, RW, 17 (Red Deer, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 85th overall, third round in 2024

Pikkarinen showed well at the U-18s, making noise for his physicality and power-forward nature. He won’t be too productive with the puck, but he’ll bring excitement and energy to every shift. I do see someone with bottom-line NHL potential here – being 6-foot-3 helps. But for now, he needs to work on his straight-line speed and find ways to keep himself valuable beyond the physical play. Pikkarinen is still so raw, but improving his puck play could go a long way.

Others: Dylan Wendt, RW (23), Max Graham, C (20), Matyas Melovsky, C (20), Herman Traff, RW (18), Cole Brown, RW (19), Petr Hauser, RW (20), Samu Salminen, C (21), Artem Shlaine, C (22), Mikael Diotte, RHD (21), Daniil Misyul, LHD (23), Chase Cheslock, RHD (19), Daniil Karpovhc, LHD (19), Artem Barabosha, RHD (20), Charlie Leddy, RHD (20), Daniil Orlov, LHD (20), Viktor Hurtig, RHD (22), Ethan Edward, LHD (22), Veeti Louhivaara, G (18), Isaac Poulter, G (22), Jakub Malek, G (22), Tyler Brennan, G (20)

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