The New Jersey Devils’ prospect pool comes in at No. 22 in the NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2026, and the headliner is impossible to miss. Anton Silayev gives the organization a rare kind of blue-line building block: 6-foot-7, freakishly athletic and built to be a shutdown presence. Alexander Command adds another strong piece down the middle, giving the Devils two young players who could eventually fit into the middle of the lineup.
The bigger picture, though, is that a lot of the Devils’ young core has already moved on to the NHL. What’s left is still a decent group, just not a deep one. That’s reflected in the team’s 2026 NHL Draft grade: C+.
Silayev sits at the top for good reason. Drafted No. 10 in 2024, the 2006-born defenseman had some trouble in the KHL last season even while playing on a strong team, but the physical package is hard to ignore.
He moves extremely well for his size, with smooth strides, strong four-way mobility and quick gap control. He plays a punishing style and projects as a premier shutdown defenseman.
The puck game is more functional than flashy, with enough ability to skate pucks out and deliver an acceptable outlet, but the decisions and touches still need work. Even so, the upside remains intact, and he projects as a top-four NHL defenseman.
Command, taken No. 12 in 2026, gives the Devils another promising core piece. The left-shot center is 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds, and he checks a lot of boxes for a middle-six future.
He skates well, brings real offensive ability and can make creative plays with the puck while still keeping things direct toward the net. His shot stands out, especially from mid-range, and he plays with enough physicality to win his share of puck battles.
He looks like a legitimate two-way center with middle-of-the-lineup potential.
After those two, the list gets more varied. Lenni Hämeenaho, drafted No. 58 in 2023, had an uneven rookie pro year in North America but was again a key performer for Finland as it won gold at men’s worlds.
The 6-foot-1 right wing has pace, puck skill, vision and a shot that can translate to NHL scoring. He can also help on the power play.
He isn’t a bruiser, but he competes hard enough and projects as a bottom-six winger.
Nikita Shcherbakov, a 2026 No. 44 pick, brings size and some real defensive promise. At 6-foot-4, he looks even bigger on tape, and he skates well enough for his frame to hold up against pros.
He played hard, defended well and showed enough offense over the course of the season to stay in the conversation as a full-time NHLer. The question is how much puck game he ultimately has.
Daniil Orlov’s profile is quieter but useful. The 2022 No. 110 pick put together a solid KHL season with 28 points for Spartak and handled a lot of different situations.
He’s a decent-sized left-shot defenseman who can skate, move the puck and make plays in transition. The ceiling isn’t high-end, but there’s a path to becoming a third-pair defenseman.
Seamus Casey remains one of the more interesting names in the group. The 5-foot-10 right-shot defenseman is a skilled skater with the kind of offensive tools that pop at NHL speed.
He can make difficult passes, slip pressure and work the blue line like a power-play quarterback. But the defending is the issue.
He’s undersized, not especially physical and has already run into problems on that side of the puck in the AHL. Unless the offense becomes exceptional, it’s hard to see him locking down a full-time NHL role.
Matias Vanhanen, a 2026 No. 37 pick, had a strong overage year in the WHL with Everett. The 5-foot-11 left wing is a smart, competitive skater and puck handler who sees the ice well and can create from the flank.
He also brings interior offense and works hard without the puck. The concern is the frame, since he’s still a lighter forward.
In goal, Mikhail Yegorov is the Devils’ lone goalie on the list. Drafted No. 49 in 2024, the 6-foot-5 netminder had a rough sophomore season at BU, but the pro traits are there.
He moves well, can make difficult saves at an NHL level and has obvious talent. The inconsistency is the problem.
He can get chaotic in net, overplay pucks and miss some reads. Even so, he projects as an NHL backup.
That’s the Devils’ pipeline in a nutshell: a true blue-line standout in Silayev, a useful center prospect in Command and a handful of other names with varying degrees of NHL potential. It’s not a loaded system, but it does have a few pieces worth watching.
In Other News...
Devils Prospect Jakub Malek Is Suddenly Facing A Big Utica Opportunity
Jakub Malek is suddenly in line for a much larger role in Utica, with Nico Daws likely headed into the New Jersey Devils crease and leaving the Comets needing a new No. 1. For a prospect who is still trying to establish himself in North America, that kind of responsibility can accelerate everything, from nightly workload to how the organization evaluates his long-term fit.
The backup picture is still unsettled, and that is where the real roster watch begins. Utica could lean on a veteran like David Rittich, keep Daws in the mix if he stays put, or turn to AHL contract goaltenders Seth Eisele and Jeremy Brodeur, while outside additions remain possible as well. No official decisions have been made yet, but the setup already makes Maleks season one of the more important development storylines in the Devils pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Camp Could Answer Two Roster Questions Fans Care About
The Devils have spent the offseason reshaping the roster under new general manager Sunny Mehta, and now the attention shifts to training camp, where a few unresolved spots should start to sort themselves out. One of the most intriguing names in the mix is Anton Silayev, who recently signed a three-year entry-level contract and is expected to be around when camp opens, giving the organization a fresh look at how quickly he can fit into the next wave of talent.
Goaltending is another position worth watching closely, especially with Martin Brodeur publicly expressing confidence in Nico Daws' potential to grow into the job. The Devils have also shown interest in Alexander Smolin during the offseason, which adds another layer to a competition that could shape the depth chart early in the season and tell the team a lot about where it stands in net. [Read more 🡒]