2026-27 New Jersey Devils Top Prospects
| Mike Morreale NHL.com Aug. 17th, 2026 |
Steven Ellis Daily Faceoff July 29th, 2026 |
McKeen’s Hockey Apr. 29th, 2026 |
Scott Wheeler The Athletic Mar. 19th, 2026 |
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| 1 | Anton Silayev (D) | Mikhail Yegorov (G) | Anton Silayev (LHD) | Mikhail Yegorov (G) |
| 2 | Alexander Command (F) | Anton Silayev (LHD) | Seamus Casey (RHD) | Anton Silayev (LHD) |
| 3 | Lenni Hämeenaho (F) | Alexander Cammand (C) | Mikhail Yegorov (G) | Seamus Casey (RHD) |
| 4 | Sean Casey (D) | Lenni Hämeenaho (RW) | Lenni Hämeenaho (RW) | Shane LaChance (LW) |
| 5 | Mikhail Yegorov (G) | Seamus Casey (RHD) | Ethan Edwards (LHD) | Lenni Hämeenaho (RW) |
| 6 | Nikita Shcherbakov (LHD) | Daniil Orlov (LHD) | Daniil Orlov (LHD) | |
| 7 | Matias Vanhanen (LW) | Conrad Fondrk (C) | Trenten Bennett (G) | |
| 8 | Shane LaChance (LW) | Ben Kevan (RW) | Conrad Fondrk (C) | |
| 9 | Conrad Fondrk (C) | Shane LaChance (LW) | Matyas Melovsky (C) | |
| 10 | Etienne Morin (LHD) | Jakub Malek (G) | Ben Kevan (RW) |
** Different sites can use different criteria for determining who is still a prospect. Also, for Dobber Prospect lists they take a fantasy hockey approach – prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL.
Anton Silayev – Silayev remains the centerpiece of New Jersey’s prospect system and one of the most fascinating young defensemen outside the NHL. Selected 10th overall in the 2024 Draft, Silayev stands out immediately because of his massive frame, elite mobility, and surprisingly advanced defensive instincts. At nearly 6-foot-7, he moves far better than most players his size and has already proven capable of handling significant minutes in the KHL against professional competition.
Mikhail Yegorov – Since being drafted by the Devils in 2024, he has continued to impress with his combination of size, athleticism, and technical development. Yegorov possesses excellent movement in the crease and tracks pucks exceptionally well for a young goaltender. What has particularly stood out is his calmness under pressure; he rarely appears rattled and consistently gives his team a chance to win. His athletic tools are NHL-caliber, but unlike many young goalies, he does not rely solely on reflexes and scrambling.
Alexander Command – Command is a competitive, intelligent two-way center whose game is built around hockey sense, playmaking, puck protection and an exceptional motor. The New Jersey Devils selected him 12th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft after he recorded 17 goals and 44 points in 30 games for Örebro’s U20 team, leading Sweden’s junior league in scoring among draft-eligible players. Command processes the game quickly, distributes the puck effectively under pressure, and consistently supports the play in all three zones, while his willingness to battle along the boards and attack the middle of the ice makes him difficult to play against.
Seamus Casey – His offensive instincts are exceptional, allowing him to create scoring chances from the blue line and quarterback a power play effectively. Casey thrives in transition, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and creating offense through speed and deception. The biggest question throughout his development has been whether his smaller frame can hold up defensively at the NHL level. However, his hockey sense and skating allow him to compensate for size limitations more effectively than many critics expected.
Lenni Hämeenaho – Hämeenaho has quietly become one of the most underrated forward prospects in New Jersey’s system. The Finnish winger has spent the last several years proving himself against professional competition in Finland while steadily improving his offensive game. Hämeenaho is a highly intelligent player who consistently makes smart decisions with the puck and excels at finding open space in the offensive zone.
2026 New Jersey Draft Picks
| Round | No. | Player | Pos. | Team | Ht. | Wt. |
| 1 | 12 | Alexander Command | C | Orebro (SWE J20) | 6′ 1″ | 187 |
| 2 | 37 | Matias Vanhanen | LW | Everett (WHL) | 5’11” | 180 |
| 2 | 44 | Nikita Shcherbakov | LHD | UFA Jr (Russia Jr) | 6′ 5″ | 187 |
| 4 | 119 | Lavr Gashilov | C | Yekaterinburg Jr (RUS Jr) | 5’11” | 186 |
| 5 | 149 | Daniil Rusakovich | G | Dinamo-Shinnik Jr (RUS Jr) | 6′ 4″ | 188 |
| 6 | 172 | Luke Wilfley | C | Portland (WHL) | 6′ 1″ | 182 |
| 7 | 222 | Quinn McKenzie | C | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | 5′ 8″ | 178 |
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