The New Jersey Devils may have found a pair of late-round CHL values in Luke Wilfley and Quinn McKenzie.
Taken with the 172nd and 222nd picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the two centers fit the mold of classic long-shot selections: each came with one or two appealing traits and plenty of work still left to do elsewhere in their game. But early in the CHL season, both have opened eyes.
Wilfley, now in his third year with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, was drafted for the kind of relentless effort that wears opponents down. At 6'1 and 179 pounds, he’s a constant nuisance in all three zones. He backchecks hard, chases turnovers even when it costs him penalties, and has built a reputation as one of the WHL’s best forecheckers because of the pressure he creates along the boards.
What’s making his start especially interesting is the offensive flash. In two games with a larger role, Wilfley has already scored a power-play goal and added an assist.
Two points in two games doesn’t scream breakout, but it does look a lot better next to the 15 points he posted in 66 2025-26 games. Scouts have believed there was more to unlock there, especially after he showed glimpses of strong playmaking last season, and a bigger opportunity may be bringing that out.
McKenzie brings a different profile, but maybe even more upside. Listed at 5'9 and 176 pounds, he made a strong first impression in his first OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds, putting up 51 points - 21 goals and 30 assists - in 65 games while skating in a top-six role. His game is built on pace and constant movement; he plays at full throttle and keeps the puck moving with a stream of quick touch-plays.
That pace has translated early this season. McKenzie is currently tracking toward an 85-point pace, and his playmaking has driven the surge, with four of his five points coming as assists. Even so, he’s been dangerous every time he gets the puck.
It’s still early, and it’s still the CHL. But for a pair of 2026 Devils draftees selected in the later rounds, the start has been a promising one.
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That shift gives Mercer a chance to prove he can still matter even without the same offensive runway. He is expected to skate with Arseny Gritsyuk and Evan Rodrigues, a lineup spot that could help stabilize his game and show the Devils he can contribute in a lesser role. If the production does not rebound, though, the questions around his long-term fit in New Jersey are only going to get louder. [Read more 🡒]
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Devils May Have One Early Problem With This Revamped Lineup
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New Jersey also plans to use a three-goalie rotation, and every one of its four forward lines is expected to feature at least one new face. That kind of overhaul can work, but it rarely clicks instantly, and the Devils may need several weeks before the chemistry settles in and the best version of the lineup comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]