*** By: JP Gambatese This edition of the DobberProspects 32-in-32 covers the New Jersey Devils’ organizational prospect depth, from the team’s top prospects and those ready to take the next step toward the big leagues to those who won’t even scratch the surface. Unfortunately, as is true for most contenders, the Devils’ prospect pool is lacking and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future as they trade away prospects and draft picks for win-now pieces. Still, there are some key youngsters who could make an impact in the NHL as soon as this season. Historically speaking, the Devils’ pipeline has been predominantly forward-heavy. Now, though, it is a more balanced prospect pool despite the lack of top talents. Last season, they saw graduations from prospects to full-time NHLers from the likes of Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, and Alexander Holtz. There are still some who are likely to make the jump, like Nolan Foote and Arseni Gritsyuk, but for the most part, their prospects are unlikely to see much NHL time anytime soon. The team’s most prevalent weakness lies at the center position, though that’s a byproduct of having some of the best center depth in the NHL. Their top prospects at each of right wing, left defense, and right defense should be regarded as likely to see significant NHL time and likely to make a positive impact on the team’s Cup contention window. ****
Graduating Players
Potential NHL Graduates
Nolan Foote, LW: Though he was expected to be an NHLer last season in a bottom-six role, Foote dealt with injuries severe enough to hold him out for the vast majority of the NHL/AHL season. In four games to end the season, he was productive with three goals and one assist. It is hard for me to imagine a world in which he doesn’t impress in training camp and solidify himself as an NHL-worthy bottom-to-middle-six forward. Arseni Gritsyuk, LW: All signs point toward Gritsyuk, the Devils’ top forward prospect, jumping to the NHL right after the KHL season ends. He has been one of the best U23 forwards in Russia over the past few years, garnering first-line minutes despite the league being notoriously difficult for young players. Expect him to be the Devils’ most impactful addition toward the end of the regular season. Santeri Hatakka, D: Hatakka played in 12 games last campaign, averaging just under 15 minutes a night. Despite the low playing time and production, his underlying statistics suggest he’s a viable NHL defenseman. Considering their depth chart in the big leagues, he doesn’t project to be a regular in the lineup, but he should certainly see more than 12 games on the third pairing or as a seventh defenseman if things play out in his favor.
Lower Line Up Graduates
Seamus Casey, D: After dominating the NCAA with Michigan University, the Devils’ top prospect Seamus Casey was rewarded with his entry-level contract. I don’t anticipate him making the jump to the NHL this season considering the Devils’ defensive depth in the big leagues unless he is a showstopper in training camp, so he should spend time with Utica as a top-four defenseman. Expect him to make the jump in 2025-26 unless he is used as a trade piece. Josh Filmon, LW: Filmon got a taste of the AHL in 2022-23, logging four minutes of professional hockey before returning to the WHL the subsequent season. He was viable enough considering his age at the time and should be able to take a step forward against tougher competition despite taking a small step back in terms of goal-scoring in the WHL in 2023-24. Cam Squires, RW: Squires, after producing respectably in the notably low-scoring QMJHL (relative to other CHL leagues), was rewarded with his entry-level contract in mid-July. There’s a slim chance he turns into anything past a career minor leaguer, but it’ll be interesting to monitor his development nonetheless. Dylan Wendt, RW: Signed by the Devils to a two-year, two-way contract in April, Wendt went from one of the top scorers at Western Michigan University to the Utica Comets. He spent five games with them last season, notching a goal and an assist in a middle-six role. The undrafted 23-year-old should continue to improve his play and has a legitimate shot at a bottom-six NHL role in the next couple of years. ***
Risers
Lenni Hameenaho, RW: Despite concerns pertaining to his skating ability in his draft year, Hameenaho has further solidified himself as one of the Devils’ top forward prospects. His skating has improved to NHL average (or close to it), and his toolkit otherwise has taken steps forward while his high-end hockey IQ hasn’t changed. He was second on his Liiga team in scoring in 2023-24 and should be competing for the league lead this season. Jakub Malek, G: Whether or not Malek’s stock as a goaltender in the Devils’ system has risen as a byproduct of his play or the subpar play at the position in their pipeline is yet to be seen, but he’s become one of the more intriguing prospects in New Jersey’s development group. The 22-year-old has become a starter in Liiga, posting a more than respectable .915 save percentage and 2.32 goals-against average in 25 games. If he builds upon a successful season playing professional hockey, he should be viewed unquestionably as the team’s best prospective netminder.
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Fallers
Josh Filmon, LW: As I previously mentioned, Filmon took a bit of a step back from the 47-goal, 75-point WHL season that got fans excited about a potential late-round steal. The narrative surrounding him has rightfully tempered off a fair bit, though there isn’t a reason to label him as a complete bust quite yet. Hopefully, he will be able to right the ship in Utica. Daniil Karpovich, D: After a strong draft-year season in the MHL, Karpovich decided to move to Belarus to play at the highest level there. A poor decision, he took a significant step back. There was ample reason to believe that he could eventually find NHL time down the road before the move – he produced at an incredible rate in the MHL for a 17-year-old defenseman. He has transitioned back to Russia, playing now for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL, so there’s still some hope he’ll be able to recuperate his game. ***
Organizational Depth Chart
Combination of NHL Readiness and Upside
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Arseni Gritsyuk | Matyas Melovsky | Lenni Hameenaho |
| Nolan Foote | Samu Salminen | Herman Traff |
| Josh Filmon | Max Graham | Dylan Wendt |
| Adam Beckman | Artem Shlaine | Chase Stillman |
| Brian Halonen | Shane Bowers | Kasper Pikkarainen |
| Cam Squires | ||
| Nathan Legare | ||
| Cole Brown | ||
| Petr Hauser |
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Anton Silayev | Seamus Casey |
| Topias Vilen | Mikael Diotte |
| Santeri Hatakka | Artyom Barabosha |
| Daniil Karpovich | Chase Cheslock |
| Ethan Edwards | Charlie Leddy |
| Daniil Orlov | Viktor Hurtig |
| Daniil Misyul |
| Goalies |
| Mikhail Yegorov |
| Jakub Malek |
| Isaac Poulter |
| Veeti Louhivaara |
| Tyler Brennan |
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Top 20 Fantasy Skater Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the New Jersey Devils prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Seamus Casey, RD
- Arseni Gritsyuk, LW
- Anton Silayev, LD
- Nolan Foote, LW
- Lenni Hameenaho, RW
- Herman Traff, RW
- Matyas Melovsky, C
- Josh Filmon, LW
- Topias Vilen, LD
- Dylan Wendt, RW
- Santeri Hatakka, LD
- Chase Stillman, RW
- Kasper Pikkarainen, RW
- Samu Salminen, C
- Daniil Karpovich, LD
- Mikael Diotte, RD
- Max Graham, C
- Cam Squires, RW
- Adam Beckman, LW
- Artyom Barabosha, RD
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JP Gambatese