New Jersey Devils Prospect Ranking: 20-16

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. The Devils’ prospect rankings are not as stacked as they once were, but there is still plenty of talent in the pipeline.

We’ve looked at two things for our 2024 New Jersey Devils prospect rankings. 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 with 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.

In last week’s edition, we looked at prospects 25-21.

That being said, let’s do it.

20. Samu Salminen, C, University of Denver (NCAA)

Samu Salminen’s development path has been an interesting one. After being drafted in the third round in 2021, he was slated to play college hockey at the University of Denver. After admissions issues, Salminen spent the 2021-22 season back in Finland, before attending the University of Connecticut the past two years. Three years after being drafted, Salminen is finally slated to play for the defending National Champions and join Denver. At one point, Salminen was high on Devils prospect rankings and was looked at as a potential future 3C, but after two subpar years in Connecticut, he’s fallen down the pecking order. But now he’ll get the chance to play for the best team in college hockey in what should be a ‘sink or swim’ season for his development and path to the pros.

WE HAVE A MICHIGAN GOAL IN CT‼️

Hello Samu Salminen🔥🔥@hockey_east | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/UxVdYv0bii

— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) January 26, 2024

19. Matyas Melovsky, C, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

The Devils’ sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, Matyas Melovsky already looks like a steal. The double over-ager put together a nice season in the QMJHL, scoring 60 points in 53 games, as well as 19 points in 17 playoff games. He was also one of Team Czechia’s standout players at the World Junior Championships this year, when he finished second on the team in points with 11 in seven games. The playmaking center has shown he can play with energy and abrasiveness. Melovsky is a malleable player who doesn’t have any incredible tools but is effective, in-your-face, and hard to play against. Since he is already 20, the Devils can get their hands on him in the AHL and try to develop him into a future 4C. As a sixth-round pick, the odds are stacked against him, but if all breaks right, he has the look of a bottom-six forward.

Matyas Melovsky makes it 1-0 Czechia in the first!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/L1XfMY9Yba

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 4, 2024

18. Daniil Karpovich, LHD, Gornyak-UGMK (VHL)

One of the standouts from the Devils’ 3-on-3 prospect challenge, Daniil Karpovich looks like another potential late-round gem. After spending last year in Belarus, he’s now ticketed to go back to Russia and play in their second-tier league. Karpovich is a big kid at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, has great mobility and just looks like a pro out there. He didn’t put up much production last season, but from what we’ve seen of him at development camp, he’s unafraid to handle and facilitate the puck. There’s a lot to like about Karpovich’s upside because of his size and the way he moves, but this season will be big for him. If he can earn a call-up to the KHL and play minutes, then you’d feel much better about his chances of coming to North America at some point.

#NJDevils prospect Daniil Karpovich first goal in belarusian Extraleague.

Season stats: 38 GP, 1G, 9A. pic.twitter.com/gMz3gXtfNg

— Belarushockey.com (@Belarushockey) January 24, 2024

17. Ethan Edwards, LHD, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Edwards is a player whose point totals don’t jump off the page, but his play does. He’s undersized at just 5-foot-10 but is not averse to stepping up and laying big hits. Even on a stacked Michigan team, Edwards got regular minutes because of the work he did defensively. Edwards was another standout at development camp, but mainly because of the offensive skill he flashed. He’s a crafty stick handler and passer who has the capabilities to produce more offense at Michigan if given the chance.  The Devils should make signing him an ELC a priority next offseason and get him in the AHL as soon as possible. At a minimum, he should carve out a nice career in the AHL, but if he reaches his ceiling, he can make it as a 6/7 defenseman.

What a solo effort by Ethan Edwards! pic.twitter.com/Ub4xArJppy

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) January 30, 2022

16. Mikael Diotte, RHD, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

The Devils signed Mikael Diotte to an ELC back in early March and was one of the players to watch at the Memorial Cup this year. Diotte is a big, mean, defensive-defenseman who saw a big uptick in production this year. On his way to leading the Voltigeurs to a QMJHL title, Diotte put up 42 points in 59 games, 10 points in 19 playoff games, and won the QMJHL’s Top Defensive Defenseman Award. After an exodus on the backend for Utica, Diotte should have the chance to immediately play top-four minutes in the AHL. His size, physicality, and defensive abilities could put him on a track to see time as a 6/7 defenseman in the NHL in a few years. It would be a win-win if the Devils could turn Diotte into a cheap depth defenseman who can shut down plays and kill penalties.

The QMJHL's Top Defensive Defenseman, Mikaël Diotte finished the season with a career-best 42 points, a +55 rating and an entry-level deal with the @NJDevils! #GoldenPuck | @VoltigeursDRU pic.twitter.com/tmKDc8YcfA

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) April 19, 2024

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