Meet the Devils 2024 Draft Class

LAS VEGAS, N.V. -- The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is in the books. The New Jersey Devils will leave Sphere Las Vegas drafting seven prospects, including two goaltenders.

Below is a quick rundown of the Devils 2024 draft class, starting with their first-round selection.

10th Overall: Anton Silayev

Defenseman | 6-foot-7, 207lbs | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

A massive defenseman that has been compared to Tampa Bay Lightning blueliner Victor Hedman fell into New Jersey's lap in the first round.

At 17-years-old, Anton Silayev played 63 games and five playoff games last season with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He scored three goals and finished the campaign with 11 points, suprassing Vladimir Tarasenko's 10 points as the most points by an under-19 player in KHL history.

“He’s 6-7, great size, but you quickly see his agility and footwork for that size, among the best you see at that age,” Devils chief scout Mark Dennehy said to team reporter Sam Kasan. “He’s mobile for his size with great defensive range.”

49th Overall: Mikhail Yegorov

Goaltender | 6-foot-5, 187lbs | Omaha Lancers (USHL)

New Jersey traded John Marino for a couple of picks, including the 49th overall, where the organization selected goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.

“Really athletic. We also like that he’s got a pretty good path here. He’s going to play another year in the USHL and then go to Boston University. It’ll give us time to develop him,” Dennehy said to Kasan.

This past season, Yegorov earned a 3.86 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage through 43 games. He was the top-ranked North American goaltender and also first on the Devils' list among goaltenders for 2024.

85th Overall:Kasper Pikkarainen

Right Wing | 6-foot-3, 198lbs | TPS (Liiga)

The winger scored 12 goals in 34 games this season for the TPS in the Liiga. He plays with an edge to his game, which is something Fitzgerald and his team is looking for.

“I’m a big winger that likes to hit and make plays with the puck in the offensive zone,” he said to the media after he was selected.

His father, Ikka Pikkarainen, was drafted by the Devils in the seventh round of the 2002 NHL Draft and appeared in 31 games for New Jersey.

91st Overall: Herman Traff

Winger | 6-foot-3, 216lbs | HV71 (SHL)

New Jersey added another power forward to their prospect pool with Herman Traff. The native of Växjö, Sweden, is committed to playing with HV71 in 2024-25, but at 18, he's still got time to develop his game before relocating to North America.

139th Overall: Max Graham

Center/Left Wing | 6-foot-3, 203lbs | Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

The Devils selected Max Graham from the Kelowna Rockets in the fifth round. He's been an alternate captain in the past two seasons and has compiled 96 points in 185 games with the club since 2021-22.

If there is one area that he needs to work on, it is cutting down on penalties since he led the WHL with 135 penalty minutes last year.

Related: The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

146th Overall: Veeti Louhivaara

Goaltender | 6-foot-4, 207lbs | JYP (Liiga)

Despite finding a starter in Jacob Markstrom, the Devils drafted two goalies this year, including Finnish-born Veeti Louhivaara, in the fifth round. After two seasons in the U20 SM-sarja, where he posted a .908 SV% and 2.87 GAA last year, he's about to become a full-time player in Finland's top league, Liiga.

171st overall: Matyas Melovsky

Center/Wing | 6-foot-1, 190lbs | Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

The Devils' final pick in this year's Entry Draft is Matyas Melovsky, who just finished his second season in the QMJHL. Although he's still playing junior hockey, out of all the prospects in this year's draft class, Melovsky is the only one who produced more than a point-per-game average (1.13), finishing with 60 points in 53 games.