The New Jersey Devils made some strategic moves in the 2026 NHL Draft, selecting Matias Vanhanen and Nikita Shcherbakov in the second round. These picks came after a notable trade that sent Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames, bringing an early second-round pick into the Devils' hands.
Initially, this 35th overall pick belonged to the New York Rangers before it made its way to Calgary. When it was time for the Devils to make their move, they executed a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, dropping back a couple of spots to 37th and gaining an additional pick at 119.
With that 37th pick, the Devils welcomed Finnish forward Matias Vanhanen from the Everett Silvertips. Vanhanen is a dynamic playmaker with the potential to become a top-six forward for New Jersey.
His recent performance with the Silvertips, who reached the Memorial Cup championship, showcased his abilities. Vanhanen was instrumental in their WHL championship run, tallying 21 goals and 66 assists for a total of 87 points in 62 games.
He also represented Finland in the World Junior Championship, contributing six assists over seven games.
Later in the round, at pick 44, the Devils selected Russian defenseman Nikita Shcherbakov. Known for his size and defensive capabilities, Shcherbakov adds a physical presence to the Devils' lineup. While he may not be the most offensively gifted, his ability to close gaps and play solid defense makes him a promising third-pair defenseman in the making.
The Devils' official social media welcomed Shcherbakov with open arms, highlighting the addition of his size to the team's roster. This strategic drafting approach by the Devils not only fills immediate needs but also strengthens their future prospects with players who have the potential to develop into key contributors.
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 🡒]