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It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third 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: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re breaking down the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils were one of the most miserable teams in 2023-24, missing the playoffs in a year when many expected them to chase a Stanley Cup. Things were a bit better last year, although they were knocked out of the postseason after just five games.

Still, there are reasons to believe in the Devils in the long run, especially if Jack Hughes can finally stay healthy. For starters, his brother, Luke, has established himself as one of the best young defenders in the NHL. There’s also Simon Nemec, who has very little to prove in the AHL at this point. Either he makes it as a full-time NHLer or he needs to be moved elsewhere to live up to the expectations set upon him after going second overall in 2022.

The Devils should get some more help from their pipeline in the near future. Arseni Gritsyuk aged out from this list, but the 24-year-old should slot somewhere in the middle six. Seamus Casey looks ready to go the distance after a taste of the big leagues last year. Don’t be surprised to see Lenni Hämeenaho, Shane LaChance, or Topi Vilen get into the first NHL games, either.

It might not be a deep pipeline, but it doesn’t need to be if the Devils play their cards right. They might need to find some luck from the Injury Ninja, though.

Biggest Strength

The Devils don’t have a single deep position. But the fact that they have potential impact players up front, on the blueline, and in the crease is a reason for excitement. Casey and Anton Silayev give the Devils some options on both sides of the back end, and I’m a huge Mikhail Yegorov fan. Up front, Lenni Hämeenaho could be a future 20-goal scorer in the NHL. The pool starts to trail off beyond that, but I actually like New Jersey’s 2025 draft, especially up front. They have a few players who could become role guys in the NHL, and you need finds like that.

Biggest Weakness

That all might be true, but the Devils just don’t have much depth at their disposal. I like the top four, and then I think Conrad Fondrk and Ben Kevan are depth bottom-six options. Beyond that, though, it’s not a strong pipeline, and they especially lack options down the middle. I wouldn’t be surprised if not a single centerman became a full-time NHLer.

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

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Mikhail Yegorov (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)*

1. Anton Silayev, LHD, 19 (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 10th overall, first round in 2024

Silayev’s appeal has never been about his play with the puck – although I’d argue he’s better than his limited offensive production would suggest. The 19-year-old has already played a lot of minutes in the KHL, something that’s rare for someone his age – especially as a blueliner. The 6-foot-7 defenseman 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 that’s what makes him stand out ahead of many other bigger blueliners. Silayev’s KHL deal ends on May 31st, so we could see him chasing an NHL roster spot come 2026-27.

2. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 19 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 49th overall, second round in 2024

Yegorov had an incredible glow-up this year. He was one of my favorite goalies in the 2024 NHL Draft but didn’t have the stats to back it up. That’s because he had to do so much heavy lifting for Omaha of the USHL, whom he eventually left halfway through the year. He then put up some outstanding performances at Boston University, with many crediting him for being one of the biggest reasons why BU advanced to the national title game. The 6-foot-5 goaltender has a great frame, and scouts love his mental toughness. Watch him shine next year in his first full year of college hockey – I see a guy with the potential to become a No. 1 goaltender one day.

3. Seamus Casey, RHD, 21 (New Jersey Devils)

Acquired: Drafted 46th overall, second round in 2022

*Seamus Casey (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Casey made the Devils out of training camp and was impressive early on, registering four points in his first six games while averaging 12 minutes a night. His ice time quickly started to fall and he was sent to Utica, where he put up 18 points in 30 games. He finished the year in the NHL, where he had another three assists in four regular season games. The undersized defender loves to make high-quality plays with the puck, and he hits hard for his size, too. I love his puck game, and his defensive awareness and consistency have taken big strides over the past two years. Look for Casey to be in the hunt for the Calder Trophy.

4. Lenni Hämeenaho, RW, 20 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2023

Skating has often been seen as one of the traits scouts view as a fixable skill. And while Hämeenaho isn’t perfect in that regard, he has come a long way quickly. He’s coming off a 51-point season in the Finnish Liiga, which made him easily the most productive U-21 player in the league. In fact, it was one of the best outputs the league has seen in the 21st Century, which has to excite Devils fans. Hämeenaho is set to head over to North America this year, and while there’s a chance he could sneak into the opening night lineup, the Devils would be better off letting him simmer in the AHL and calling him up when an injury arises. I could see him becoming a top-six NHLer in the next two years thanks to his great shot and ability to make scoring plays happen on the power play.

5. Conrad Fondrk, C, 18 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 50th overall, second round in 2025

Fondrk is a solid 200-foot player who brings speed and a great shot to the table every night. I feel like he’s more competitive than when we saw him a year ago, when it seemed like he just stapled himself to high-end shooting areas and didn’t grind it out like many would have hoped. An injury ended his season early last year, but scouts love his shot and his penalty kill abilities. I hope we see him choose his shot selections a bit more wisely in college, and maybe he’ll become a decent third-line player.

6. Ben Kevan, RW, 18 (Arizona State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 63rd overall, second round in 2025

*Benjamin Kevan (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

I was hit or miss with Kevan, but I like his placement here. He struggled to produce in his second year in the USHL, which was disappointing after he dominated the league as a 16-year-old. He became streaky and wasn’t able to elevate his game to the next level. That being said, Kevan is still an excellent skater who handles the puck well and can make some quality passes. He also has plenty of skill while being defensively responsible. I’m not sure he’s more than a depth forward, but still one I’d be willing to be patient with.

7. Shane LaChance, LW, 21 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Edmonton Oilers in 2025

Lachance became the Devils’ property for their role in facilitating the Trent Frederic deal with Edmonton and Boston. And, realistically, there’s quite a bit to like about Lachance as a potential fourth-liner. Lachance is a 6-foot-5 winger in the midst of a strong season at Boston University. Taken 186th overall in 2021, the BU captain has never been an explosive offensive threat, but he’s going to finish with about 30 points this season. You can always count on him to get a couple good looks a game, and he has become more dangerous as a shot generator. He’s physically dominant, great around the net, and can play alongside just about anyone. I can see him having an NHL career.

8. Mason Moe, C, 18 (University of Minnesota, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 90th overall, third round in 2025

Moe can be a hit or miss for me, but I get the allure – and using a third-round pick on him was fine by me. On one hand, he can generate chances around the net and is a solid passer. He makes his stick active without the puck, allowing himself to force turnovers and hold his own defensively. I also think he’s as competitive as you’ll find at this point in the draft. Moe really improved his intensity as the season wore on, and I think he has a shot at being a decent bottom-six player. But I don’t know if he’s dynamic enough as a puckhandler just yet – it feels like he’s a bit predictable.

9. Topias Vilén, LHD, 22 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 129th overall, fifth round in 2021

*Topias Vilen (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Vilén was a long shot to become an NHLer as a fifth-rounder in 2021. But he has managed to keep himself in the conversation ever since, and he has had a pair of decent seasons with Utica. The Finnish-born defender has never had a ton of skill and doesn’t shoot a lot, but I like him as a passer and he can be a solid penalty killer. Consistency has been an issue for a few years now, but I still see someone who can read defensive plays well enough to become a serviceable NHLer – maybe as a third-pairing option.

10. Thomas Bordeleau, C/LW, 23 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by San Jose Sharks in 2025

The Devils acquired – and signed – Bordeleau just recently after a bit of a topsy-turvy career in San Jose. He had been a part of the Sharks’ organization since the team took him in the second round, 38th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft. After a rather successful career at the University of Michigan, the small forward has struggled to establish himself in the NHL lineup and has instead spent most of his pro career in the AHL. That looks to be the case again in 2025-26, with time running out for the 2020 second-rounder to establish himself as a big-league player. Still, his NHL experience, plus obvious skill in the AHL, make him someone worth watching in Utica, and I expect him to earn some more NHL playing time as a call-up this year.

The rest: Cam Squires, RW (20), Josh Filmon, LW (21), Matyáš Melovský, LW (21), Gustav Hillstrom, C (18), David Rozsival, RW (18), Kasper Pikkarinen, RW (18), Samu Salminen, C (22), Viktor Hurtig, RHD (23), Charlie Leddy, RHD (21), Daniil Orlov, LHD (21), Artem Barabosha, RHD (21), Daniil Karpovich, LHD (20), Sigge Holmgren, RHD (18), Mikael Diotte, RHD (22), Ethan Edwards, LHD (23), Jeremy Hazel, LHD (22), Tyler Brennan, G (21), Jakub Malek, G (23), Trenten Bennett, G (19), Veeti Louhivaara, G (19)

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