Top Prospects: The NHL System Rankings

#19: New Jersey Devils

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Number of Ranked Prospects: 20

Number of Forwards in the Top 50: 0

Number of Defensemen in the Top 50: 2

Average Rank of Top 10 Prospects in Pool: 142nd

Top Forward Prospect in The System: Arseni Gritsyuk (68th)

Top Defenseman Prospect in The System: Anton Silyayev (7th)

System Score: 3

The New Jersey Devils' prospect system--much like that of the Buffalo Sabres--would be one of the best in the world were in not for the fact that so many of their recent top prospects are already full-time NHL players (some of them superstar players). The Hughes brothers Jack (1st overall in 2019) and Luke (4th overall in 2021) are true All-Star talents, and close behind them are players like Dawson Mercer (18th overall in 2020) and Simon Nemec (2nd overall in 2022). The Devils are on the cusp of challenging for a Stanley Cup title due to their rebuilding program and drafting quality players over the past several years, including more recent selections that lead the current pool of prospects and could soon to make their own impacts at the NHL level.

The Top of The Pool:

Anton Silayev is easily the top prospect in the New Jersey system. The huge (6'7, 207 pounds), smooth-skating defenseman was selected 10th overall in the 2024, and is currently listed at 7th overall in the Hockey Prophets' defenseman prospect rankings. Silayev is playing in the KHL again this year, and is under contract with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod team for two more years. The most striking aspect of Silayev's play is his skating agility and change of direction. He is so light on his feet for such a big player, and he uses this agility as a defensive tool. He prefers a step-up poke check to disrupt attacking flow of play rather than playing a physical game, but that seems like a tool better used on the bigger ice than it will be in NHL-size rinks. He shows a great first-pass and some offensive contributions, but for now he looks much more like a heady stay-at-home defender. 

The top forward in the system is also a Russian player currently working in the KHL. Arseni Gritsyuk is a forward who has grown significantly both physically and developmentally since he was drafted 129th overall in 2019. Gritsyuk was 5'10 in his draft year, but is currently listed at 6'0, 194 pounds and is a rock-solid, speedy scoring right winger. Gritsyuk has posted 113 points in 164 KHL games over the past three seasons (including 7 points in 9 games so far in 2024-2025). SKA St Petersburg signed Gritsyuk to an offer sheet prior to the 2023-2024 season, and that contract is set to expire at the end of the current season. If he comes to North America this summer, he could be fighting for a starting top-six role next fall. If not, he will age out of the Hockey Prophets prospect rankings.

Seamus Casey starts his professional hockey career this fall after playing two seasons of stellar NCAA hockey for the University of Michigan. The calm, efficient and excellent skater was a key contributor for the Wolverines during his tenure in Ann Arbor, and was the team's top-scoring blueliner last season with 45 points in 40 games. His total scoring was good enough to put him third overall in NCAA defensemen, behind only Zeev Buium and Lane Hutson. Casey has looked good in the Devil's training camp this fall, but he will almost certainly play this rookie professional season in Utica to get some AHL seasoning.

Return to the Team System Rankings

Below is the full list of the New Jersey Devils' ranked prospects.

Top Forwards 

Top Defensemen