The New Jersey Devils made waves on day one of the NHL Draft with some intriguing picks that have fans buzzing. One of the most talked-about selections is Alexander Command, a center who could bring a much-needed spark to the Devils' lineup. Whether he ends up being a dynamic force or more akin to a player like Dawson Mercer, Command fills a vital need for the team at the center position.
In the second round, the Devils doubled down on their commitment to strengthening their center prospects by selecting Matias Vanhanen. It's no secret that the Devils' pool of center prospects was among the league's weakest, but with Vanhanen and the earlier addition of Lavr Gashilov, they're on the right track to bolstering their future.
However, the real head-turner might be their other second-round pick, Nikita Shcherbakov. Standing tall at 6’5” and weighing in at 187 lbs, Shcherbakov is a defenseman with a promising frame that scouts believe can fill out even more.
His size is matched by his smooth skating ability, a combination that caught the eye of many. Last season, he showcased his talents across the KHL, VHL, and MHL, and he's expected to see more action in the KHL next season with Salavat Ufa.
This pick echoes the journey of Anton Silayev, another towering defenseman who recently signed with the Devils. Silayev, a former 10th-overall pick, is set to vie for a spot during the preseason, though the Devils' current roster depth might see him start in the AHL. Despite a challenging season under a coach who didn't favor his style, Silayev retains his value as a top-10 pick with impressive size and skating skills.
The Devils' management, led by Sunny Mehta, is navigating high-stakes negotiations for superstar talent. While past trades, like Brady Tkachuk's move to the Florida Panthers, set a high bar, acquiring someone like Jason Robertson would require more than just draft picks.
Silayev, despite not being drafted by Mehta, could be a pivotal piece in these discussions. For Mehta, every player is part of the business equation, and if drafting a player like Shcherbakov fits their strategic vision, it's a smart move.
Taking multiple chances on big, mobile defensemen seems to be a calculated strategy for the Devils, one that could pay off in the long run.
In Other News...
Devils May Have Just Made Jack Hughes Biggest Problem Harder To Fix
The Devils went into the draft needing more than just another prospect, and Sunny Mehta made sure they at least kept one premium chip in the pocket. New Jersey held onto the 12th overall pick and used it on Swedish forward Alexander Command, a move that kept the front office in position to keep searching for a top-six answer around Jack Hughes rather than spending every major asset in one swing.
Even after the roster shuffle, the larger issue is still staring back at Mehta. New Jersey wants a legitimate scoring wing to ease the burden on Hughes, but the path to landing one keeps getting narrower, and the clubs remaining trade currency is not as clean or simple as it looked before the draft. If the Devils are going to chase a real difference-maker, they may have to decide whether to keep waiting for the right market or finally push harder on a deal that can change the look of the top of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face A Massive Connor Hellebuyck Or Jacob Markstrom Decision
The Devils offseason has a familiar shape to it: Jack Hughes needs more help up front, and the goaltending situation has not settled the way the front office hoped when Jacob Markstrom arrived. New general manager Sunny Mehta inherits both problems at once, and the pressure to upgrade in goal could push New Jersey into a bigger swing than a usual summer shuffle.
One name hovering around that conversation is Connor Hellebuyck, a target whose availability could reshape the market if the Devils decide to press forward. The path there is not simple, though, because moving Markstroms contract may be part of the equation, and it is unclear how much extra value New Jersey would have to attach to make that kind of deal work. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Draft Weekend May Have Revealed A Bigger Plan
The Devils draft weekend already came with a clear headliner in Alexander Command at No. 12, but the rest of the class suggested New Jersey was chasing more than one type of future contributor. General manager Mehta kept coming back to the idea of adding productive players with dynamic qualities, and the later-round picks fit that broader search for skill rather than simply filling out a board.
For a team trying to keep building around a stronger talent base, that approach can matter just as much as the first name off the board. The draft also left enough room to wonder whether the Devils are keeping an eye on bigger roster movement elsewhere, with Winnipeg at least willing to hear trade ideas on its side of the goalie market, even if the full shape of that situation is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]