MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #23 New Jersey Devils – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 23rd (Last Year - 22nd)
GM: Tom Fitzgerald Hired: July 2020
COACH: Sheldon Keefe Hired: May 2024

Following a positive 2024–25 campaign that saw the New Jersey Devils reach the postseason for just the fourth time in 15 years, the organization has taken another slight step back. Even with a talented core that includes Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, and Jesper Bratt, it remains difficult to get a clear read on where the team truly stands within the competitive landscape. Their quiet approach leading up to the NHL trade deadline may reflect a similar uncertainty within the front office. The good news for New Jersey is that the club has largely resisted leveraging its long-term assets. The Devils retain all of their first- and second-round selections in the coming drafts, preserving valuable flexibility as they continue to evaluate the direction of the roster.

On the blue line, the organizational depth remains particularly encouraging. With young NHL contributors such as Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, and Seamus Casey (91st) already establishing themselves, the Devils possess a strong foundation on the back end. That group could soon be reinforced by Anton Silayev (41st), who is expected to make the transition to North America in the near future. Meanwhile, Ethan Edwards and Daniil Orlov hold high regard within our rankings. In goal, 2024 second-round selection Mikhail Yegorov continues to trend upward at Boston University and is widely viewed as a potential long-term solution in the Devils’ crease.

By maintaining its draft capital and avoiding major futures-based trades, New Jersey has positioned itself to continue adding young talent in the coming years. Whether that ultimately supports a quick step forward or signals a more patient retool remains to be seen, but the organization has preserved the flexibility to shape its path.

1. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Tall skaters and defencemen in general usually take the longest to find their game and reach the lofty projections put on them in their draft years. Silayev happens to be both, and that slow development seems to be taking its course as his production dips and his ice time year-over-year isn’t increasing. He is still the exceptional skater and large defender that he has been, and he has added a physical edge to his game as well, laying massive hits and dominating the net front and corners. The combination of mobility and reach helps him shut down rushes and his angles when defending has improved as well, making life difficult for opposing forwards crossing the blue line. There are moments where he can be slow to anticipate play and lack the effort to get to his spots quickly, habits that should grow out of his game as he matures. He won’t be an offensive threat or involved in transition at the next level, but he keeps things simple when called upon. A bottom pair, minute eating, penalty killing specialist is a good expectation at this time, but if he continues to clean up his play and be more involved and consistent, there could be a top four shut down defender in Silayev.

2. Seamus Casey, D, Utica Comets (AHL)

After a pretty fantastic debut season of pro play, including an unexpected debut with the Devils to kick off the 24-25 season, Casey is one of the most highly anticipated prospects in the Devils’ system. Of slightly below average size, Casey has strong mobility and knows how to move the puck. Displaying a solid hockey IQ and a good read of the ice, his distribution skills have raised eyebrows while his playmaking has fans wondering if he may have it in him to become another Brian Rafalski of sorts. As incredibly promising as the Miami, Florida native’s rookie season of pro play was, even collecting eight points in 14 NHL contests, his sophomore year has been one of new challenges. He kicked things off on the IR and, in general, his Utica Comets team has struggled all season long, seeing him bear the brunt of that as not only the top scoring defenceman on the team, but also one of its major minute-munchers. Unfortunately, an early February injury has led to more time off while also costing him a spot at the AHL All-Star game. The organization continues to view him as a future piece of the puzzle and had him up again for two games when Brett Pesce went out with a minor injury.

3. Mikhail Yegorov, G, Boston University (NCAA)

For a goaltender who has been left out to dry in the majority of his starts since January, Mikhail Yegorov is doing quite well. After a spectacular season, where he joined BU mid-season and looked dominant, he has been getting almost no help from the defence in front of him this season. His athleticism and quickness have still been high notes in his game, but this has been a challenging season for a reason. Yegorov has let in some iffy goals as of late, gaining a habit of getting out of position after one quick movement to block a shot. His aggression is amazing, and he is very fluid in his motions, but he needs time to develop and will find his game again, hopefully next season as a junior. Because of his athleticism, he remains a goaltender with a very high NHL ceiling. The Devils may just have to be a little more patient with him than initially believed after the consistency issues shown this year as a sophomore.

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

Pretty much the Devils’ pride and joy among forward prospects, we were very curious to see how Hämeenaho’s first season in North America would go. Drafted by New Jersey 58th overall in 2023, the righty shot winger has spent the past three seasons going from establishing himself as a regular Liiga forward to being a top scorer. His 51 points in 58 games last year even got him nominated to Finland’s World Championship squad, where he went on to collect an admirable four points in eight games. To date, he has not only spent this season showing that his hockey sense, pacing abilities, off puck reads, and full ice timing could continue rounding off his offensive package as a top six winger in the AHL, but earned him a call up to Newark where he hasn’t skipped a beat. Four points in nine games heading into the Olympic break showed he would not need any more seasoning in the AHL, finishing the season with the Devils. We believe he needs to improve his overall mobility to date, but he continues to impress as an achiever and is looking like a middle six NHL winger over the long haul.

5. Ethan Edwards, D, Utica Comets (AHL)

After spending the final season of his career at Michigan as a minute-munching defenceman with an offensive slant, the 2020 fourth rounder began his pro career on a PTO last spring and has already found himself in a role as a full-time AHL defenceman this season, suiting up for more games on the than any other blueliner thus. Entering the season, it was unsure whether he can be seen as an offensive defenceman. He pumped in ten goals and added 12 assists of the season in 58 games after having scored just five in 36 games as a senior. In fact, he was tied for the team lead in scoring among defencemen with Caled Addison as of this writing, albeit for a Utica team that has done more losing than winning this season. Being of decent, but average size, the hope is that 2-3 years of minor league experience will mold Edwards into an NHL option in the not-so-distant future. He just needs to see to it that his mild success as a rookie is but a positive step in an upwards trajectory.

6. Daniil Orlov, D, Spartak Moscow (KHL)

Year over year Orlov continues to improve. The smooth skating defencemen is blossoming into a well-rounded two-way player, with increasing production and steady defensive play. His defensive game is sound, utilizing his mobility to be aggressive in the neutral zone, maintain gaps, and angle forwards to the wall on the rush. The positioning is solid and he is a tough competitor when defending the crease. Orlov is also very effective on breakouts, again, using the skating to push the puck up ice and has a knack for joining the rush at opportune times to contribute offensively. The skill isn’t tremendous, but his ability to read play allows him to slip past defenders and create scoring chances. There is some concern over the lack of physicality along the boards, as well as inconsistencies with decision making when the puck is on his stick. Orlov plays a very projectable style for a middle to bottom pairing role as a puck mover who can defend well.

7. Conrad Fondrk, C, Boston University (NCAA)

In a rough season for all of Boston University's forwards, there has been a lot to build on in the game of Conrad Fondrk. Like with the USNTDP last season, he is showing flashes of being a very skilled two-way forward with some highlights in his shot, passing ability, and physicality. However, it would be remiss if there was no mention that these flashes can disappear for long stretches of time. Fondrk can look lost in the offensive zone at times and will occasionally fly the defensive zone before his team has possession of the puck. However, some of these immature habits can likely be attributed to the fact that Fondrk has been a Swiss Army knife, playing literally up and down the lineup with a ton of changes to his linemates. The potential that Fondrk displayed has been great, but he will definitely need at least two more years of college to reach it.

8. Ben Kevan, RW, Arizona State University (NCAA)

Kevan’s season with Des Moines in the USHL was somewhat disappointing overall, though he showed a more diversified skillset that has come alive slowly but surely for Arizona State this year. He flashes a dangerous shooting ability from time to time and could eventually become a 20-goal scorer in the NCAA at some point, if not next season. Kevan’s stickhandling and creativity with the puck also give him a ton of room to create plays in the offensive and neutral zones. Though his skating is not anything more than average, his motor has taken big steps to improving his 200-foot game. Kevan is just waiting for more ice-time and development for next season with the Sun Devils as he will be taking over for seniors, Bennett Schimek and Cruz Lucius. Additionally, he’s had a recent coming out party, too, scoring six points in the last five games. His projection will be completely tied to his ability to improve his skating further so that he can be a quality middle six piece at the NHL level.

9. Shane Lachance, LW, Utica Comets (AHL)

A 2021 late round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, the Devils liked Lachance so much that they ate up 50% of Trent Fredric’s contract and moved prospect Petr Hauser as part of a three-way deal last March to acquire him, wasting no time in signing him to an ELC this past summer after just two seasons of college play at BU. A physical specimen at 6-foot-5, 218 pounds, Shane has come to outsize his father Scott, a former NHLer and first round draft pick, and has gone from being a rough ‘n tumble customer to a player who not only patrols the slot for deflections and rebounds but can also easily complement skilled players. In the midst of his rookie pro season, his stats have been on par with expectations, but his ability to play a pro game and handle himself in the rough stuff department even earned him a debut in the NHL (7 minutes of playing time). There’s little doubt that his snarl and multifaceted game have the Devils hoping he answers some future questions on their lines, with the timeline maybe being shorter than originally thought.

10. Jakub Malek, G, Utica Comets (AHL)

A 2021 fourth rounder, the 6-foot-4 goaltender is in the midst of his first full season in North America after three seasons of an increasing workload in the Finnish Liiga, going from back-up to starter in the course of two seasons. Despite an iffy start in his new surroundings, including losses in his first five outings, what we’ve come to see is that when his positioning is up to par, he is terribly difficult to beat with any regularity. Malek can be both explosive in the crease and display exceptional control over his movements, often able to cover up for himself, even when he may misread a play along the way. Prior difficulties with tracking the puck and glove side errors seem to be fading into the past, and his adjustments have helped him with a much improved second half. A short two-game stint in the ECHL, in which both games went to overtime, seems to have done just the trick as his ascent through midseason play has come on the coattails of that assignment. The Devils continue to have every reason to believe Malek will be turning into an NHL topic, but he will need to be re-upped this summer.

11. Mason Moe, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

A traditional power pivot who excels in getting to the net, Moe has had an up and down freshman year at the University of Minnesota. There’s still a need to upgrade his skating, and he remains a long-term project.

12. Topias Vilen, D, Utica Comets (AHL)

Vilen looked extremely promising after his first two pro seasons with Utica, but he’s taken a step backward this year and may be running out of time in the New Jersey organization.

13. Cam Squires, RW, Utica Comets (AHL

Squires’ lack of consistency in his first pro season has led to him spending some time in the ECHL. He needs to find a way to transfer his scoring prowess at the pro level. That may take some time.

14. Kasper Pikkarainen, RW, TPS (Liiga)

Even though Pikkarainen’s offensive production has been limited this year, it’s been great to see him establish himself as a Liiga regular after last year’s injury plagued year. The big, physical winger projects as a bottom six forward.

15. Matyas Melovsky, C, Utica Comets (AHL)

After three great seasons with Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL, Melovsky turned pro this year and has had a limited impact in the AHL. The talented playmaker may just need time to adjust.