Devils News
Top Forward Prospect Now Available to Devils; Will He Sign?
Arseni Gritsyuk and SKA St. Petersburg have been eliminated from the KHL playoffs. Now available, will he come to the New Jersey Devils?
Both the New Jersey Devils and their fans have long-awaited the arrival of top forward prospect Arseni Gritsyuk, and as of Sunday, he’s now available to make the leap to North America.
Gritsyuk and SKA St. Petersburg bowed out of the Gagarin Cup Playoffs on Sunday, thus ending the Russian forward’s contract in the KHL.
Since the Devils drafted Gritsyuk in the 2019 NHL Draft in the sixth round, he spent the last six seasons developing on home soil. Over the last few seasons, the Russian-born forward has developed into one of the better offensive forwards in the KHL.
As a result, the Devils’ interest in bringing the unsigned forward to North America grew.
“That’s what we’re trying to do right now,” GM Tom Fitzgerald explained when asked about Grtisyuk’s status at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. “We’re trying to get him under contract right now. That’s the goal, to get him over here and give him a chance to show us what he can do.”
The Devils understandably will take any offense they can get, as their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is all but clinched. Gritsyuk has shown he can certainly provide, scoring 17 goals and 44 points—a new career high—in 49 games this season. He also added a goal and five points in six playoff games this spring.
Perhaps the offense will, or won’t translate to the NHL, but New Jersey believes in Gritsyuk’s ability to contribute, and he could look good alongside one of Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier in the future.
There is one problem, however. Although Gritsyuk’s season in the KHL has come to an end, New Jersey Hockey Now learned the Devils’ Russian-born prospect is contemplating his NHL future.
RELATED: Devils KHL Prospect Weighs NHL Decision
Here’s the situation.
Gritsyuk can only sign a one-year, entry-level contract (ELC) for his first NHL contract. He can either sign it now and burn the year of his ELC and sign for more money and/or term in free agency this summer.
Or, he can wait and play a full year on his first NHL contract next season, if he chooses to make the leap to this side of the pond.
Gritsyuk would be eligible for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s just a matter of getting the 24-year-old to New Jersey.
Things could change with just one phone call, but it doesn’t sound like Gritsyuk will be on his way to play for the Devils this season. It seems like his arrival is more likely in 2025-26.
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