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Corey Pronman details what to expect from the New Jersey Devils’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated throughout the 2024 NHL Draft.
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2024 Draft Grade: A-
A major reason for the Devils’ high grade was their 10th overall pick, Anton Silayev. I think Silayev could be a star two-way defenseman in the NHL. I did also like their pick of Mikhail Yegorov on day two. He may be the most purely talented goalie in the draft, and he has the potential to be a starting goalie in the NHL if he fixes some of his deficiencies.
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Draft Class
10. Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
April 11, 2006 | 6′ 7″ | 207 pounds
Tier: NHL All-Star
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: High-end
Player comparable: Zdeno Chara
Analysis: Silayev took a regular shift with power-play time on a KHL team this season as a 17-year-old and stood out for Torpedo in the KHL playoffs. When he went down to their junior team for their playoffs, he wasn’t as good as expected, although he was strong to end his year captaining Russia’s U20 team. He is a unique type of prospect who’s easy to dream on. He can play all situations and play on his off wing. Silayev is a 6-foot-7 defenseman who skates very well for his size. He has excellent footwork and a smooth stride, with strong four-way mobility. He closes gaps quickly on his check, plays a very physical brand of hockey and thus projects to be a premier shutdown type of defenseman in the NHL. He can skate pucks out of his zone well, makes a good first pass and shows strong hockey sense at the offensive blue line. Silayev has strong puck skills and can beat pro defensem*n one-on-one often enough. His offensive play won’t blow you away, but it’s good enough to move pucks in the NHL and get points. He can be solid offensively to go with elite defensive play to be a potential No. 1 defenseman one day.
Pick grade: A
Thoughts on the pick: Silayev fell further than some expected in the draft, as teams were unfamiliar with him and had some offense concerns in his game. I didn’t share those concerns. I don’t see premier offense in his game, but I see enough with his size, mobility, and physicality for him to be a premier NHL defenseman.
49. Mikhail Yegorov, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
March 7, 2006 | 6′ 5″ | 187 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
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Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Analysis: Yegorov came over from the CSKA program to the USHL this season. He emerged as Omaha’s full-time goalie although his performance was inconsistent. Yegorov has clear pro potential. He’s nearly 6-foot-5 and moves quite well in the net. I wouldn’t call his side-to-side movements explosive, but he can make tough saves and is nimble for a guy his size. On his best nights, where he’s squaring up pucks, and given the type of stops he can make, he looks like a clear NHL goalie. Too often that doesn’t happen, though. Yegorov can struggle with his reads and decisions, challenging at the wrong time or struggling to pick up where the puck is going. He projects as a backup goalie in the NHL but he has a chance to become a starter if he really hits.
85. Kasper Pikkarainen, RW, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
August 7, 2006 | 6′ 3″ | 198 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Pikkarainen didn’t have a huge season at the Finnish junior level, but he showed enough particularly on a tools level to be intriguing as a pro prospect. He’s an athletic winger with a big frame who can skate quite well. He gets around easily with an efficient stride. He displays strong individual skills and can beat defenders one-on-one. At the junior level in Finland, he showed strong vision and instincts, although I didn’t see that as much versus better players. If he makes more plays I can see a potential bottom-six player, because he can score goals and has the aesthetic looks of an NHL forward.
91. Herman Träff, LW, HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell)
December 31, 2005 | 6′ 3″ | 216 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
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Analysis: Traff didn’t post huge numbers this season at the J20 level in Sweden, but he’s a toolsy forward who looked decent versus men as well. He stands in at 6-foot-3 and skates very well for a bigger forward. Traff can make highly skilled plays on the move and could project to play at an NHL pace. He makes some plays at the Swedish junior level, but I think in the NHL his pure sense and offensive instincts would be subpar. He’s got an NHL north-south game with a good shot, although he can play on the perimeter a bit too much and he is inconsistent.
139. Max Graham, C, Kelowna (WHL)
May 21, 2005 | 6’3″ | 203 pounds
146. Veeti Louhivaara, G, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
February 6, 2006 | 6′ 4″ | 198 pounds
171. Matyas Melovsky, C, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
May 25, 2004 | 6′ 0″ | 183 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Below NHL average
Analysis: Melovsky was solid in his third draft-eligible season, helping Baie-Comeau become a top CHL team. He was also a top scorer for Czechia at the world juniors and helped lead them to a bronze medal finish. Melovsky is a good skater who can play both ways and with tempo. He has good puck skills and can make skilled plays from the perimeter, in tight and on the move. He sees the ice well and makes quick decisions with the puck. He’s had a mild growth spurt which has helped improved his pro stock. He was 6 feet two years ago but now he’s close to 6-foot-2, giving him more of a real chance to play NHL games.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Corey Pronman is the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic. Previously, Corey worked in a similar role at ESPN. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman
