New Jersey has attempted to turn the corner as an organization and become a consistently competitive NHL team. The Devils have graduated a lot of players from the prospect ranks, but their pipeline stays strong on the backs of a trio of great young defensemen: Simon Nemec, Anton Silayev and their budding star Luke Hughes.

2024 ranking: 8

2025 NHL Draft grade: C

Player Ranking

1. Luke Hughes, D

September 9, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 4 in 2021
Tier: NHL All-Star

Skating: High-end
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Hughes played a big role in New Jersey, posting his second straight 40-point season in the NHL. He’s a dynamic skater with freakish edge work and explosiveness for a defender his size, being one of the better all-around skaters in the NHL. He combines his excellent skating with a high skill level and strong offensive IQ, making him a constant offensive threat. He walks the blue line and creates chances for others at a clear NHL level. Hughes is a great talent, but his defensive play has been an issue. He lacks physicality and cheats for offense at times. He’s so mobile that you figure he will be at least competent defensively to go with elite offense and puck possession. He projects as a star No. 1 defenseman.

2. Anton Silayev, D

April 11, 2006 | 6-foot-7 | 209 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 10 in 2024
Tier: Top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end

Analysis: Silayev took a minor step back this season but still played a regular role on Torpedo as an 18-year-old. 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 defenseman in the NHL. He can skate pucks out of his zone well, makes a good first pass and has enough skill for secondary offense in the NHL even if he’s not a natural with the puck. He projects as a hard-to-play-against top-four defenseman.

3. Simon Nemec, D

February 15, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 2 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Nemec had a tough start to the year at Devils camp and in the AHL, but he played better as the season went along and earned time back up in the NHL. Nemec is a very intelligent puck mover with the confidence to make difficult plays and run an NHL power play. His pure athleticism and skill don’t jump off the page, though. He can make stops because of how smart he is and having a solid compete level while being a decent enough skater. He projects as a top-four defenseman who could play on both special teams but may not post huge offensive numbers.

4. Mikhail Yegorov, G

March 7, 2006 | 6-foot-5 | 187 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 49 in 2024
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Yegorov was up and down to start the year and left the USHL midseason to go to Boston University, where he was arguably the best goalie in college hockey from when he arrived. Yegorov has clear pro potential. He’s nearly 6-foot-5 and moves quite well in the net. He has the ability to make difficult NHL-level saves with consistency. Yegorov cleaned up his game more this season, making good reads and not letting as many soft goals through or sprawling as much. His game can be a little chaotic at times, but part of that is due to how quickly he moves. He’s trending toward being a legit starting goalie in the NHL.

5. Lenni Hämeenaho, RW

November 7, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 58 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Hämeenaho was one of the best forwards in Liiga this season and earned a regular role on Finland’s senior team at the World Championships. He’s a well-rounded winger whose game translates up levels. He’s a good skater and puck handler who can create chances for himself and others with pace. He’s a creative playmaker who can flank a pro power play. Hämeenaho has the shot, vision and hands to project to score in the NHL. He’s not overly physical, but he competes hard enough and wins battles. He projects as a middle-six winger.

6. Seamus Casey, D

January 8, 2004 | 5-foot-10 | 181 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 46 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Casey had a strong pro season, impressing out of Devils camp and playing well in the AHL when he was sent back down after briefly making the NHL team. He’s a dynamic offensive player due to how good a skater he is and how creative an offensive mind he has. He makes a lot of highly skilled dekes and passes at an NHL pace. He’s very elusive and can walk the blue line like a pro. Casey has NHL power-play tools, but the debate will be on his defending. He’s a small defenseman who isn’t overly physical, and he will need to win over a coach to trust him at even strength. The skating and puck play are so good that he could do that, but I can see it being a constant struggle.

7. Shane Lachance, LW

August 30, 2003 | 6-foot-5 | 218 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 186 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Lachance was a top player for Boston University. He’s a big winger with soft hands who, despite not posting huge offensive numbers this season, has displayed significant offensive creativity. Lachance is excellent around the net and can make difficult plays to his teammates in small areas and from down low. He works hard and is tough to box out. The only real issue is his feet. He’s a sluggish skater by NHL standards, but there could be enough to his game to be a bottom-six winger.

Has a chance to play*

Conrad Fondrk and Ben Kevan, both taken by New Jersey in the second round in 2025, are highly talented forwards with legit speed, hands and offensive IQ, but they both were inconsistent last season after coming into the year as potential late first-round picks. Kasper Pikkarainen is an interesting athlete. He’s not the smartest player, but he’s huge, can skate and has secondary scoring touch.

Josh Filmon, LW

March 18, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 170 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 166 in 2022

Conrad Fondrk, C

June 1, 2007 | 6-feet | 192 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 50 in 2025

Gustav Hillstrom, C

January 20, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 114 in 2025

Benjamin Kevan, RW

January 3, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 183 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 63 in 2025

Matyas Melovsky, C

May 25, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 171 in 2024

Mason Moe, C

March 26, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 90 in 2025

Daniil Orlov, D

December 21, 2003 | 6-foot-1 | 198 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 110 in 2022

Kasper Pikkarainen, RW

August 7, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 85 in 2024

* Listed in alphabetical order

Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)