New Jersey Devils Prospect Rankings 25-21

The Devils have had one of the best prospect pools over the last half-decade. Since 2017, they’ve had two first-overall selections, a second-overall pick, seven more first-round picks, and 28 total top-100 draft choices. In that time they’ve graduated a ton of high-end talent to the NHL.

For our 2024 New Jersey Devils prospect rankings we’ve looked at two things. First, prospects who have completed a full rookie season (Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec) or played multiple games throughout multiple years (Nico Daws and Nolan Foote) will not be considered. Only prospects who have played little to no NHL games or none at all will be considered.

To determine this year’s Devils prospect rankings, three aspects have been taken into account; the player’s overall ability, how high their ceiling is, and their competition for a roster spot.

That being said, let’s do it.

25. Petr Hauser, RW, HC Sparta Praha (Czechia)

Just making the list at 25 is Czech winger Petr Hauser. Drafted with pick 141 in round five of the 2022 draft, Hauser has yet to carve out a full-time role in the top league in Czechia. He played 55 games across the top division, second division, and under-20 division last season, finding the most success against the U-20s. Hauser was thought of as a potential middle-six power forward in his draft year because of the raw skill he possessed in a 6-foot-4 frame. He’s had a ton of success over the past three seasons for Sparta Praha’s U20 team, as well as a solid performance at the 2023 World Junior Championships, but an inability to make an impact in an average at best Czechia league has him down at 25.

That release tho 😮 @narodnitym's Petr Hauser put Czechia up by 1 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/k26kTt7hZE

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 18, 2022

24. Artyom Barabosha, RHD, CSKA Moskva (KHL)

The Devils seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft was Russian right-shot defenseman Artyom Barabosha. Similar to Hauser, Barabosha played across three different leagues this season, the KHL, VHL, and MHL. However, he played 44 of his 46 games between the KHL and VHL, the second-highest league in Russia. He collected six points in those 44 games, but Barabosha is regarded for his physical play over offense. He throws big open ice hits and uses his physicality to help defend. Unfortunately for Barabosha, the Devils have a ton of other defensemen who have more well-roundedness to their games and have easier paths to the NHL. Maybe a few more years of seasoning in the KHL before making the move to North America will help his case, but for now, he’s down at 24 in this year’s Devils prospect rankings.

Artyom Barabosha just hit CTR ALT DLT on Juraj Slafkovsky pic.twitter.com/pxVpPRTo1j

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) August 7, 2021

23. Chase Cheslock, RHD, University of St. Thomas (NCAA)

Cheslock was regarded as one of the best high schoolers available in the 2023 draft when the Devils took him 154th overall in the fifth round. This season he split time between the Omaha Lancers in the USHL and the University of St. Thomas. Cheslock is a big kid, listed as 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and uses all of it when he defends. He has good mobility, uses his stick well to kill plays, and is known for clearing the opposition from the crease. His skating and transition play gives him the edge over Barabosha, but his quality of competition at St. Thomas isn’t the highest and the Devils have a few more defensemen that are further along in their development.

Congrats to 2023 player of the year finalist, Chase Cheslock, on a great season and career for Rogers HS. Chase is a bruising defender who changes the game with his size and skill.

Link below to see all 6 players we chose and their 15 ?s in :60.

BHS POTY:… pic.twitter.com/0D0gtgDXpC

— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) February 23, 2023

22. Tyler Brennan, G, Adirondack Thunder (ECHL)

There was a lot of hope that Brennan could be an answer in net for the Devils when they selected him in the fourth round in 2022. After finishing as the top North American goalie according to the NHL Central Scouting, Brennan has struggled over the past two years. His GAA dropped from 3.58 to 2.86 the following year, but his SV% remained basically the same at 0.898%. Last year Brennan only played in 13 games, all of which were down in the ECHL with Adirondack. There he recorded a 3.16 GAA and a 0.896 SV% in a backup role. What’s working in Brennan’s favor is that he should be given the starters net with Adirondack this season. What’s working against him is the logjam of young goalies in the AHL and the rest of the Devils pipeline. It’ll take a big jump in his play this season – and maybe even a call-up to the AHL – to put Brenna back in the conversation with some of the Devils’ other young goalies.

TYLER BRENNAN FIRST PRO SHUTOUT 🧱 pic.twitter.com/F0nXlsooGE

— Adirondack Thunder (@ECHLThunder) February 4, 2024

21. Daniil Orlov, LHD, Spartak Moskva (KHL)

Another member of the 2022 draft class, Orlov has developed nicely these past two years in Russia. He split time across the KHL, VHL, and MHL over the last two years, but found himself playing a full-time role in the KHL this season. His offensive numbers aren’t gaudy – just seven points in 60 games – and it’s because that’s not his game. Orlov’s scouting report was that he is a tried and true defensive defenseman. Orlov is contracted to Spartak Moskva until the 2025-26 season, and I can see him coming over to the AHL once he has the chance. The Devils have gotten late-round Russian defenders to come to North America before, and Orlov is one to watch out for in the coming years.

Coast to coast goes 19-year-old defenseman Daniil Orlov. pic.twitter.com/fQLpI6O1Di

— KHL (@khl_eng) October 12, 2023

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