2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: New Jersey Devils’ Top 10

Jul 29, 2026, 10:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 27, 2026, 15:24 EDT

2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: New Jersey Devils’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the New Jersey Devils.

Remember when the Devils nearly won the 2012 Stanley Cup?

Since then, the club has just one playoff series victory – a first-round triumph over the New York Rangers in 2023. The Devils have made the playoffs just two other times, while missing out on another 11 spring bonanzas – including 2026.

Eventually, the Devils are going to need to turn things around and become a serious force again. Maybe that’ll happen under new GM Sunny Mehta. For now, Devils fans, just stay optimistic about the future. Realistically, though, I’m not sure if the team’s pipeline is going to be a major help. Don’t get me wrong; I think they’ve got some valuable core pieces. I think Anton Silayev is a solid defenseman – maybe a top 15 defensive prospect in the game. Alexander Command will be a solid NHLer, but he fits more as a complementary asset than a play driver. There are few goalie prospects I like more than Mikhail Yegorov, too.

Beyond that, though? A couple guys coming off injury-impacted campaigns, some decent bottom-six threats and not much else. New Jersey’s pipeline is definitely closer to the bottom than the top 10, and that’s not ideal when talking about a team with such a poor regular season track record for more than a decade.

Biggest Strength

I think there’s some decent variety in New Jersey’s blueline system. Seamus Casey, for example, is a skilled puck-mover who can get around opponents with ease. Silayev is a tough cucumber who’ll make it his mission to get in your way every single shift. The same goes for Nikita Shcherbakov, maybe to a lesser extent. Étienne Morin’s mobility and puck skills are intriguing, too. We’ll see how many of these guys pan out (Silayev is the only one I feel truly confident will become an impact NHLer).

Biggest Weakness

I know goal scorers are challenging to find, but it doesn’t feel like there are any serious contenders in New Jersey’s system here. Command is a good prospect, but I believe his off-puck play will be much more impactful in the NHL than his ability to put pucks in the net. There are no future power-play quarterbacks on the blueline. And the center depth leaves a lot to be desired. Finding someone who can score goals is definitely easier said than done. But it feels like New Jersey should have a much better crop to work with.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Sunny Mehta
Chief Amateur Scout: Mark Dennehy
Dir. of Player Development: N/A
AHL Affiliate: Utica Comets
ECHL Affiliate: Adirondack Thunder
Recent NHL Graduates: Arseny Gritsyuk, RW

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Mikhail Yegorov, G, 20 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 49th overall, second round in 2024

*Mikhail Yegorov (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)*

Yegorov is one of the best goaltending prospects in the game, and that didn’t change even after his numbers dipped at BU. Simply put, the team wasn’t good, and Yegorov was left to do a lot of heavy lifting more often than not. The 6-foot-5 goaltender is quite aggressive with his angles, but he also has lightning-quick reflexes and gives opponents little to work with. He never lets a bad goal bother him because he’s one of the most mentally strong goalies you’ll find. It feels like his movements are more refined than they were when he first made the jump to college, and his glove hand has only gotten better with time. Yegorov will spend another year at BU before potentially turning pro and chasing a job in Utica in 2027-28. I see a future NHL starter here; there’s nobody in the system who I think is capable of coming close to challenging him, too.

2. Anton Silayev, LHD, 20 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 10th overall, first round in 2024

Silayev is set to embark on his first year in North America and is bound to get some NHL games under his belt, too. The 6-foot-7 defenseman does an excellent job of forcing opponents to the perimeter before absolutely obliterating them. His offensive game has been mostly non-existent since his draft year, but his game is more about using his mobility to take space away. Think: Nikita Zadorov, but if he skated better. That’s what you’re getting from Silayev. It’s crazy to think about how high the hype was for Silayev at one point in 2024 after watching him absolutely dominate KHL competition as a rookie. I don’t expect him to be a top-pairing defenseman by any means, but he’s one mean dude who’ll be an absolute menace once he gets to the big leagues.

3. Alexander Command, C, 18 (Örebro HK, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 12th overall, first round in 2026

*Alexander Command (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Command isn’t flashy, sorry Devils fans. But he has all the makings of a reliable, all-situations center in the NHL. His floor is very high – he fits an archetype that succeeds quite frequently. He’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. Command can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I’ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he’s more of a second/third-liner in the NHL, but one who shouldn’t have many issues being effective.

4. Lenni Hämeenaho, RW, 21 (New Jersey Devils)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2023

Hämeenaho has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now. The 21-year-old Finn recently won gold at the World Championship, finishing among the team’s top scorers with eight points in 10 games. It wasn’t surprising, given his strong year between the NHL and AHL in his first season in North America. He primarily played in the AHL, where he served as a solid top-six scoring threat. He’ll have a chance to play with the Devils on a full-time basis this year, and the timing is solid because his skating has continued to take solid steps forward since his days in Liiga. I think Hämeenaho will be better in a scoring role, but his defensive improvements should allow him to be a bit more multi-dimensional.

5. Seamus Casey, RHD, 22 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 46th overall, second round in 2022

After an impressive 14-game run with the Devils in 2024-25, Casey seemed destined for full-time NHL duty this past year. Instead, injuries limited him to just 31 regular season games between the NHL and AHL, with just two games with the big club to his credit. Casey will be forced to play a bit of catchup in 2026-27, but I’m still a believer in his natural skill. The undersized defender loves to make high-quality plays with the puck, and he hits hard for his size, too. I love his puck game, and his defensive awareness and consistency have taken big strides over the past three years. I hope he gets a realistic shot at making the Devils this year.

6. Nikita Shcherbakov, LHD, 18 (Salavat Yulaev Ufa, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 44th overall, second round in 2026

*Nikita Shcherbakov (Svetlana Sadykova/KHL)*

The 6-foot-5 defender started the 2025-26 campaign in the KHL but has primarily played in the second-tier Russian league since the end of September. Shcherbakov is strong, but he moves well – which is important for a guy his size. He has definitely grown on me a bit over the past few months, especially after watching him play well against his own age group. His game lacks high-end thinking, and he’ll likely slot in as a third-pairing defender. But he should be a reliable one at that. If he can add some extra offensive juice, I’d be more excited about him, but not every defender needs to be a wizard with the puck – especially when they’re defensively sound like Shcherbakov.

7. Matias Vanhanen, LW, 18 (Boston College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 37th overall, second round in 2026

Vanhanen was one of the WHL’s premier setup guys last year, showing excellent heads-up hockey sense every time he hit the ice. If it wasn’t for him, Everett’s offense would be significantly less lethal – Vanhanen seemed to be the primary play producer. Scouts aren’t completely sure what type of player he’ll be at the next level. He lacks any sort of physical play, and he’s not all too quick, either. But, man, his puck play is truly remarkable, and he showed it off at the Memorial Cup. I could see him carving out a role as a playmaking third-liner, but he’ll need to focus on building some muscle in college.

8. Shane Lachance, LW, 22 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Edmonton Oilers in 2025

Lachance became the Devils’ property for their role in facilitating the Trent Frederic deal between Edmonton and Boston in 2025. And, realistically, there’s quite a bit to like about Lachance as a potential fourth-liner. Taken 186th overall in 2021, the former BU captain has never been an explosive offensive threat, but he seemed comfortable with his 25-point run in Utica. You can always count on him to get a couple good looks a game, and he has become more dangerous as a shot generator. He’s physically dominant, great around the net and can play alongside just about anyone. I can see him having an NHL career, mostly as a depth player, but a decent one at that.

9. Conrad Fondrk, C, 19 (Boston University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 50th overall, second round in 2025

*Conrad Fondrk (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Fondrk was a decent contributor for the USNTDP during his two years there, although injuries limited his opportunities in his final year (including missing the U-18 World Championship). Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to bounce back in his first year of college, registering just three goals and eight points in 25 games for Boston University. Once one of the top offensive threats in his age group, it’ll be interesting to see if Fondrk can bounce back in 2026-27. Fondrk is a solid 200-foot player who brings speed and a great shot to the table every night. I still hold out hope that he’ll become a decent third-line NHLer.

10. Étienne Morin, LHD, 21 (Utica Comets, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Calgary Flames in 2026

Morin was originally picked by the Flames in the second round in 2023 – and, at one point, seemed like a potential steal. More than a few heads were turned when NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr called Morin his top defenseman that season. Unfortunately, he struggled a bit too much in the AHL this year with just one goal and seven points in 42 games and was eventually moved in the Simon Nemec trade prior to the 2026 draft. The skilled, two-way defender is still a work in progress, but his offensive flashes make him intriguing. For now, I think he’s a bit of a long shot, but one the Devils are probably excited about thanks to his raw potential, regardless.

Other Prospects: Matyas Melovsky, C (22), Cam Squires, RW (21), Josh Filmon, LW (22), Amadeus Lombardi, C (23), Lavr Gashilov, C (18), Luke Wilfley, C (18), Quinn Mckenzie, C (18), Mason Moe, C (19), Gustav Hillström, C (19), David Rozsíval, RW (19), Kasper Pikkarainen, RW (19), Ben Kevan, RW (19), Cole Brown, RW, LW (21), Sigge Holmgren, RHD (19), Daniil Karpovich, LHD (21), Daniil Orlov, LHD (22), Chase Cheslock, RHD (21), Artem Barabosha, RHD (22), Charlie Leddy, RHD (22), Mikael Diotte, RHD (23), Trenten Bennett, G (20), Veeti Louhivaara, G (20), Jakub Malek, G (24)

SPONSORED BY bet365

Recently from Steven Ellis

MORE FACEOFF.IN YOUR INBOX.

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER