The New Jersey Devils’ rookie camp is up and running at Prudential Center, and the first wave of arrivals hit Newark on Friday morning for medicals, testing, photographs, and meetings as the club begins work toward the 2026-27 season.
Rookie camp will continue through Tuesday before the veterans report on Wednesday, giving the organization a few days to take a close look at its young talent before the full roster gets involved.
The name at the top of the rookie group is defenseman Anton Silaev, the Devils’ 10th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Earlier this summer, his agent spoke to The Hockey News about what lies ahead for the 2024 first-rounder, who has not played more than 63 games in any single season.
“It is 84 games that you have to play 100% every night, every period, every shift,” he shared. “I would say the first 10 games, you play on your emotions because you are in a new league, and everything is different and new.
“After those 10 games, it becomes routine, and you have to have the desire to come to the hockey rink and be ready for practice and for the game. It is very important,” he continued.
“This is the stuff we explain to him, and he knows. There is a bunch of work to do.”
The Devils will get their first on-ice look at the rookies Saturday morning. Then comes a pair of games against the New York Islanders, beginning Sunday at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House and wrapping up Tuesday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, NY.
The rookie camp roster is headlined by Silaev as New Jersey starts the ramp-up toward a new season, with interviews to follow with players and Utica Comets head coach Ryan Parent.
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