GOTTA SEE IT: Devils Prospect Anton Silayev Scores Slick Goal

The scent of hockey grows stronger each and every day. The KHL preseason is underway, and there are a few KHL prospects who are participating. In preseason game action on Saturday, New Jersey Devils prospect Anton Silayev showed off some silky mitts, scoring an impressive goal.

Typically, we’d defer to Arseni Gritsyuk for offense regarding Devils KHL prospects. Yet, it was Silayev on Saturday who made the highlight reel.

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosted Norilsky Hockey Club in a high-scoring affair. Silayev, the Devils first round pick in 2024– 10th overall — scored an impressive goal on the rush.

THE BIG MAN HAS ENTERED THE CHAT SHORTHANDED ‼️
🚨 Anton Silayev SH #NJDevils
🍎 @Igor_LarionovII
1-0 Torpedo #KHLpreseason pic.twitter.com/8FbAD98bLn

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 24, 2024

It appears that Anton Silayev is already trying to incorporate the Devils’ style of play into his arsenal. Scoring on the rush is most definitely the beam that supports the Devils’ blueprint. What’s most impressive about the goal is Silayev’s hand-eye ability while falling to the ice that allowed him to push the puck past the Norilsky goaltender.

Many scouts projected Silayev to be selected within the top-five picks of the 2024 NHL Draft. In fact, most projections suggested he should have been a top-three pick. However, Silayev fell into the Devils’ laps at 10th overall, and they couldn’t pass up on the 6-foot-7, 18-year-old.

Now, it’s just a preseason contest, so don’t get overly excited. However, it is encouraging to see the Devils prospect showcase some offensive prowess the way he just did.

Leading into his draft year, Silayev was primarily described as a defensive, physical defenseman with plus skating. His three goals and 11 points in 63 games last season didn’t suggest he was an offensive threat.

However, he was just 17 years old, playing in a men’s league in the KHL. As a player who revealed he looks up to Victor Hedman as his idol, perhaps there is more to Silayev than just a defensive stalwart.

According to Silayev’s EliteProspects profile, “Silayev’s a giant defenceman with the skating ability to cover any area of the ice in the blink of an eye. His form is perfect, whether you look at his posture, the flexibility through his ankles, knees, and hips, or the overall output. With that explosive skating stride comes a vast defensive range and a willingness to activate into the play.”

Any added offense to Silayev’s tool belt is certainly welcomed.

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