Devils Coach Talks First Impression, Untapped Potential of Prospect Anton Silayev (+)

Scouts aside, New Jersey Devils brass didn’t get a first-hand look at prospect defenseman Anton Silayev until he arrived in Newark for development camp at RWJBarnabas Arena. It was a busy few days at the end of June between the draft and the beginning of prospect camp. Despite a whirlwind of events for Silayev in a short span of time, the first-year KHL defenseman didn’t fail to impress Devils/Utica Comets coach Kevin Dineen.

The majority of scouts leading up to Silayev’s draft year painted the 6-foot-7 defenseman as a dominant shutdown defenseman who brings speed and physicality. That had many draw a comparison between Silayev and former Boston Bruins captain and 2011 Stanley Cup Champion, Zdeno Chara.

Yet, Silayev explained he looked up to a different defenseman who he models his game after.