The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Be sure to check out the New Jersey Devils team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/new-jersey-devils/

To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

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The New Jersey Devils had a tale of two seasons, wherein through most of the season all looked great and they looked like a force that would be a tough out in the playoffs, but then came the injuries which was the downfall for the season. When Jack Hughes was out for the remainder of the season, many people already wrote the Devils off but when the team lost over half of the defensemen before and during the first round of the playoffs, it made for a quick out versus the Carolina Hurricanes. The plus side when the team sputtered out was the play of Simon Nemec, who took a nice step forward after his dismal first half. Then there is the teams’ Ondrej Palat problem, where he continually gets inserted into the top six when he clearly shows he should be a 3^rd line forward at best. At $6M per until 2027-28 fans hope the Devils can move on, but thankfully with Bratt, Hischer and J. Hughes all signed to such team friendly deals, it would not be the worst if he remained on the team but Head Coach Sheldon Keefe needs to keep him out of any offense situation.

The Devils are a team that really seems to need one more skilled forward in the top six to appear as a legitimate threat in the playoffs, and a break out for Dawson Mercer would sure be nice. Unfortunately, the lack of depth skill up front would be credited to GM Ton Fitzgerald with his emphasis on size and forechecking as a priority.

It would also be quite helpful if Timo Meier looked like the Sharks version, but that can also slightly be attributed to lack of powerplay time. Stefan Noeson was a nice find up front, and plays his role well. Additionally, the trade deadline acquisition of Cody Glass seemed quite positive for the Devils too.

On the backend, the one that stands out (usually negatively) is Brendan Dillon, who I remain convinced that had the Devils known how good Kovacevic would be, he would not have been given such a contract. With Kovacevic out, Nemec will get a chance to start in the top six and hopefully he can hold on to it. Luke Hughes remains the teams only UFA but he should be signed, and no one seems worried there.

In net the Devils did not want 35-year-old Jake Allen getting away, so they signed him to a long-term low cap hit deal, and have oft-injured (and also 35) Jacob Markstrom with one year remaining on his deal. Will the team extend Markstrom or hand the reigns to a tandem of Allen and Nico Daws for 2026-27 is the only current question in net.

The off-season has been pretty quiet as well. Oh, remember all the NHL Insiders telling us how crazy this off season was going to be with trades and offer sheets? Anyway, on to the meat of the article.

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 2, 50^th Overall: Conrad Fondrk, C

Fondrk was a bit of an anomaly in the 2025 draft, in that he was not a player over 6-2 as GM’s really wanted to focus on getting big players, even if they had a lower ceiling and chance to make the NHL than a smaller skilled forward. Fondrk’s initial draft stock was between rounds 2-4 but sunk as he struggled to start the season, but then after injury his play and stock improved. He has quite a bit of skill, which did not show up much in the stat sheet, drive and two-way ability. The feeling is that he can develop in a number of ways: a top six forward, a middle-six grinding forward who can ship in scoring, a bottom six shutdown centre, or the all-too-common depth forward.

Round 2, 63^rd Overall: Benjamin (Ben) Kevan, RW

Kevan was a nice get for the Devils at the end of round two. He has fantastic speed and pace to his game, to go along with the skill he has. Kevan looked like he produced much more than he did in 2024-25 but he was great at creating chances. His upside could be limited but he is a player teams should take a chance on because if he can put it all together and figure it out he could be a legit top nine NHL forward, and even potentially a very good one.

Round 3, 90^th Overall: Mason Moe, C

Moe is a big, strong, defensive-minded centre. He projects to be a shutdown centre at the NHL level but there is always a chance for more if everything goes right, especially if he plays with the right players. Realistically the Devils know his upside is limited but are hoping he can become some sort of NHL forward in the future.

Round 4, 99^th Overall: Trenten Bennett, G

Standing at 6-8, Bennett is already huge in net but if he develops more meat on him, without ruining his athleticism and movement, then he will take up even more net. A goalie of his size is a dream for NHL GMs to potentially have in the NHL crease

Round 4, 114^th Overall: Gustav Hillström, C

Hillström is a big defensive centre who is one of the top faceoff centres available in the draft. He has the skill to produce in a crash the net/screen the goalie role, but if he is to make the NHL it will be on the back of his play shutting down opponents.

Round 6, 161^st Overall: David Rozsival, RW

Rozsival is a high-pressure player who is noticeable all throughout the ice. He is the perfect type of third line winger. One that can rush the puck up the ice, produce offense, pressure for turnovers on the forecheck, and stay strong in his own end. Rozsival will be playing in North America for 2025-26 as he is slated to play with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL.

Round 6, 178^th Overall: Sigge Holmgren, RHD

Holgren is a teammate of Hillström who is an offense-minded defensemen. He did not play a game in 2024-25 so his selection was a surprise to many, but the Devils must have scouted him previously. Holgren dislocated his shoulder and had surgery prior to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. He should play in 2025-26 and hopefully the offense promise can be developed. There is a potential for a late round gem here.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Thomas Bordeleau, C/LW, via trade from San Jose where he signed a one-year two-way deal

• This could end up being a steal for the Devils if Bordeleau can figure out his scoring at the NHL level

Arseny Gritsyuk, LW/RW, from the KHL – 1 year at $925k

Lenni Hämeenaho, RW – signed his 3-year ELC

Connor Borwn, RW – 4 years at $3M AAV

Evgeni Dadonov, LW/RW – 1 year at $1M with bonuses

Angus Crookshank, LW – 2 years at $775k (year two is one-way)

Juho Lammikko, LW – 1 year at $800k

1 year at $77k:

• Marc McLaughlin
• Dennis Cholowski
• Calen Addison

Outgoing

Shane Bowers via trade to San Jose

Curtis Lazar

Nathan Bastain

Nolan Foote

Santeri Hatakka

Isaac Poulter

Re-Signed

Jake Allen – 5 years at $1.8M AAV

Johnathan Kovacevic – 5 years at $4M AAV

Cody Glass – 2 years at $2.5M AAV

Dennis Cholowski – 1 year at $775k

Marc McLaughlin – 1 year at $775k

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In the System

Risers

Mikhail Yegorov, G

Yegorov not only rebounded after a poor 2023-24, with his play in the first half of 2024-25 in the USHL, but he absolutely stole the show (and the starters job) when he moved on to Boston University in the NCAA. HE finished with an 11-6-1 record while posting a 0.927 save percentage, while no other goalie that played for the team had an SV% above 0.900. Yegorov became the talk of goaltending prospects and has rocketed himself up the Devils prospect rankings.

Simon Nemec, RHD, and Seamus Casey, RHD

Nemec struggled to start the season, was sent to the AHL, and there were rumblings he was leaning towards asking for a trade. Not only that but there was assumption the Devils were dangling him in trade talks. Thankfully all of that got shut down once he got time to play. Nemec was one of the Devils’ best defensemen to end the season and in the playoffs. He should be in the opening night roster.

Casey brought the offense when he was playing as he had a very impressive eight points in 14 games, and there were times he was on the 1PP. He had 18 points in 30 AHL games. The offense is clearly there but he is a little small and needs to learn to defend better, so Casey will easily benefit from more time in the AHL. The Devils having too many defensemen signed will keep him in the AHL for a bit.

Matyas Melovsky, C

Melovsky slowly improved in the QMJHL from 2022-2024, and had quite the World Junior Championship and international play. That confidence spilled over to his final QMJHL season as he broke out even more with 83 points in 57 games, 57 of those being assists. There is a chance now for Melovsky to show that the offense can translate to the AHL, which would up his chance at becoming an NHLer.

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Fallers

Josh Filmon, LW

After moving from the WHL to the AHL, Filmon had a pretty dreadful season for offense. He had no points in 12 AHL games, and instead played a majority of the time in the ECHL, where he had 36 points in 65 games. The previous promise seems all but gone now and Filmon likely will max out as an AHL player.

Kasper Pikkarainen, RW

Pikkarainen had a tough year thanks to injury. After one WHL game he injured his knee and was out for a majority of the season. He finished his season back in Finland, but only got in two games. Oftentimes a full season derailed from injury can hurt future development. Hopefully Pikkarainen can bounce back with a healthy season

Tyler Brennan, G

There was no room for Brennan in the AHL for 2023-24 so he spent the most of his available time in the ECHL. The same happened in 2024-25, except Brennan had worse numbers, going from a 0.896 to a 0.878 SV%, in more games, though the Adirondack Thunder were not that great of a team. He has been passed by quite a few prospects in the Devils’ system, so it will take a lot for him to get back into the NHL picture.

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Likely to see NHL action

Arseny Gritsyuk – Should be on the opening night roster

Simon Nemec – Should be on the opening night roster

Nico Daws – Injures to Markstrom will occur

Seamus Casey

Thomas Bordeleau

Angus Crookshank

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Top 20 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.

NOTE: Nemec is considered a full time NHLer on my end so he is not on the list below

1. Arseni Gritsyuk
2. Seamus Casey
3. Lenni Hameenaho
4. Anton Silayev
5. Mikhail Yegorov
6. Thomas Bordeleau
7. Nico Daws
8. Angus Crookshank
9. Matyas Melovsky
10. Topias Vilen
11. Cam Squires
12. Samu Salminen
13. Daniil Karpovich
14. Jakub Málek
15. Shane Lachance
16. Ethan Edwards
17. Benjamin Kevan
18. Daniil Orlov
19. Kasper Pikkarainen
20. Sigge Holmgren

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Final thoughts

The Devils are a playoff team and the cupboard is beginning to become quite bare. The team needs to find a way to quickly upgrade to the Stanley Cup Contender status before the entire cupboard runs out.

They really need another top six scoring forward, but they have at least appeared to have fixed the scoring depth up front, which really appeared to be the undoing of 2024-25 when the top guys struggled or were hurt. There is still work for GMTF to get this team to the next level, but thankfully he has quite a few amazingly great value contracts to work with.

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Be sure to check out the New Jersey Devils team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/new-jersey-devils/

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Thanks for reading. Follow me on twitter: @FHPQuinn

Pat Quinn