In the world of hockey, where the draft can make or break a team's future, the New Jersey Devils made a notable move by selecting defenseman Nikita Shcherbakov with the 44th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. This event took place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., and the Devils are hoping they've snagged a defensive gem.
Shcherbakov, standing tall at 6-foot-5, is a native of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Last season, he split his time between two Russian leagues.
He got a taste of the KHL with Ufa Salavat Yulayev but spent the majority of his time honing his skills with Neftekamsk Toros in the VHL, Russia’s second-tier league. There, in 35 games, he notched four goals and six assists, racking up a total of 10 points alongside 24 penalty minutes.
His physical presence and ability to contribute offensively make him an intriguing prospect for the Devils.
Internationally, Shcherbakov has donned the Russian jersey with pride. He played in 39 games with the Under-17 national team, tallying six goals and 20 assists, showcasing his ability to contribute on the score sheet. His time with the U-16 squad was similarly productive, with four goals and 10 assists over 34 games.
When it comes to prospect rankings, Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff had his eye on Shcherbakov, slotting him at No. 32 in his final 2026 NHL Draft Rankings. Ellis anticipated Shcherbakov would go late in the first round or early in the second, highlighting the defenseman's blend of size and mobility.
"He’s strong, but he moves well - which is important for a guy his size," Ellis noted. While Shcherbakov's game might not yet feature high-end strategic thinking, Ellis sees him as a solid third-pairing defender in the making.
Ellis also placed Shcherbakov at No. 12 on his list of top defensemen in the draft, acknowledging that the young blueliner's game could reach new heights if he develops a stronger offensive presence. For the Devils, the hope is that Shcherbakov will grow into a reliable defensive force, bringing stability and strength to their blue line for years to come.
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 🡒]