Daniil Orlov may not sit at the top of the New Jersey Devils’ defense pipeline, but he’s the one who looks closest to the NHL right now.
That distinction matters. Orlov likely isn’t the best blue-line prospect in the system, and he may not even rank second among the Devils’ Russian defensemen.
Anton Silaev’s ceiling is higher, and 2026 second-rounder Nikita Shcherbakov may have a better one too. Seamus Casey also belongs ahead of him, even if he’s back on injured reserve again.
Still, Orlov has separated himself in the one way that counts most for immediate projection: he already looks ready to play pro hockey at the highest level. The 22-year-old has opened the 2026-27 season with six points in nine games, including one goal and five assists. That production puts him 14th among NHL blueliners.
The offense is part of the picture, but it’s not the reason Orlov’s stock is so intriguing. The real selling point is everything underneath it - the skating, the control, the way he handles space.
The 2022 fourth-round pick is smooth in a way that jumps off the page. His top speed is above average, his acceleration is sharp, and his four-way mobility is outstanding.
He can pivot, change directions, and keep his momentum without looking like he’s working for it. That ability shows up on both ends of the ice, and it’s the foundation of his game.
In his own zone, Orlov trusts that skating to clean up danger. He can retrieve pucks, carry them out himself, and then make the breakout pass rather than just surviving the shift. Because he’s so much more mobile than the average KHL defenseman, he often exits the defensive zone - and even enters the offensive zone - under his own power.
That mobility is even more valuable defensively. In the neutral zone, Orlov is a wall.
He swallows up rush chances, takes away space, and keeps attackers from finding a lane no matter which direction they try to go. When he’s facing the play, he’s extremely hard to beat, and that’s the kind of trait that translates.
In the NHL, speed and mobility aren’t luxuries for defensemen; they’re survival tools.
His KHL production only adds to the case. Orlov has shown he can move the puck, pinch with confidence, and jump into the rush when the moment is there.
But it’s the defensive impact that makes him stand out. That ability to shut down transition plays is why he looks more NHL-ready than every other defense prospect in the Devils’ system.
Maybe more than that. Based on how he plays, Orlov might be better prepared for the league than any prospect anywhere. Realistically, he could step into a No. 4 role as soon as he’s willing.
In Other News...
Devils Face A Tough Trade Question On Their Blue Line
Amadeus Lombardi has already given the Devils something to think about after arriving in a deal with Detroit for a fourth-round pick and turning enough heads in camp to win a roster spot. For New Jersey, that kind of surprise only sharpens the bigger question on the blue line, where the organization is still looking for the right mix of stability, upside and cap flexibility as it plans beyond the immediate season.
One possible answer would come from Detroit, where front office turnover and unresolved business around Simon Edvinsson have made the situation worth monitoring. If the Devils decide to press harder on that front, they would have to weigh both the financial cost and the roster ripple effect of adding another young defenseman, which is exactly the sort of calculation that can define a team trying to take the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Bottom Six Already Faces An Early Test Without Connor Brown
Connor Browns preseason momentum will have to wait. The Devils forward will miss the first two games of the season after suffering a minor lower-body injury in practice, a frustrating early setback for a team still trying to sort out its lower lines and establish a dependable fourth line. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Brown will get further imaging and then be reevaluated, which leaves the club managing a short-term absence before the opening stretch really gets underway.
For New Jersey, the timing matters because Brown was part of the mix competing for the fourth-line right-wing role, and the Devils have several options to cover his spot in the meantime. It gives the bottom six an immediate early test, with camp battles suddenly carrying a little more weight as the team tries to keep its lineup balance intact without one of its newer forwards available right away. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Are Finally Putting Jonathan Lekkerimaki To A Real NHL Test
Jonathan Lekkerimakis strong start has given the Canucks a little reason to believe the patience around him might finally be paying off. The 22-year-old winger scored the winning goal in a shootout against the Devils and also chipped in a key goal in Vancouvers season opener against the Oilers, the kind of early production that stands out after a career marked by injuries and uneven stretches of play.
Vancouver has kept him on the roster and is clearly willing to let the growing pains play out at the NHL level, with general manager Ryan Johnson stressing a patient approach to his development. Lekkerimaki remains waiver exempt until next season and is headed toward restricted free agency after that, so the Canucks have some flexibility, but they also need to know whether he can keep turning promising moments into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]