Devils' Prospect Chase Stillman Looking To Become a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ & Minimize Timeline to NHL

On July 23, 2021, the NHL held their draft remotely.

New Jersey Devils general Manager Tom Fitzgerald stood at a podium in his team's locker room and announced his club's second first-round selection.

"The New Jersey Devils are proud to select from the Sudbury Wolves, Chase Stillman ."

Stillman comes from a family of hockey players. His father, Cory, is a Stanley Cup champion who played in the league from 1994 to 2011, and his older brother, Riley, is currently under contract with the Buffalo Sabres .

The Devils are hosting their development camp this week, and the 21-year-old prospect feels like a veteran.

"I don't know if it is my third or fourth development camp now, and I am definitely more familiar with the building, coaching staff, and everything like that," he told reporters on Monday. " I have noticed already that some of the other guys and even the European guys who don't speak English too well have come up to me and asked me questions, and that makes me feel good. That's always kind of the person I have tried to be, somebody (who can) help other people."

Stillman made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut in 2023-24 with the Devils affiliate, the Utica Comets. He appeared in 54 games and finished the campaign with 24 points, including 14 goals.

There are expectations as a first-round draft pick, and this week, The Hockey News asked Stillman if he felt there was an unnecessary amount of pressure on players selected in the first round.

"Yeah, I think a little bit. When you are drafted in the first round, I think the fans expect you to score 50 goals and have 100 points every season. Trust me, I want to do that myself, and I wish I could, and I wish I did a little bit more in junior," Stillman explained. "At the same time, I took a little bit of a step back last year in junior, and I was like (New) Jersey wants me to play a certain way, and I am going to do whatever I can to minimize the timeline for what it takes for me to get in the NHL."

The Devils want the St. Louis, MO, native to play a hard-nosed style and be a bit of an "energizer bunny" on the ice.

"I am supposed to be the guy who can skate up and down the ice and play physical," he said. "I am obviously not an overly big guy. I mess it up a little bit and fight when I have to. I don't say that I'm a fighter by any means, but it is part of the game."

At a young age, Stillman understands that adaptability and the ability to evolve one's game are essential qualities for any hockey player looking to build a long career.

In today's game, a player needs to showcase a complete game.

"A lot of people don't realize how talented you have to be to be a pure goal scorer in the NHL. You can do it in junior, and you can maybe do it in the minors, but all of a sudden, you can't do it in the NHL. I think that is where a lot of guys get in trouble. They have a monochromatic game."

The youngster said he gained a bit of confidence playing both the wing and center positions throughout last season. One area of his game that he has worked on with Comets' head coach, Kevin Dineen, is his board battles playing as a winger. Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Stillman wants to excel at winning the puck back and getting it down the boards.

"I want to be a Swiss army knife, and (whatever position) I need to (play), I can."

His father was drafted sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in 1992 and made his NHL debut two seasons later in 1994-95. Stillman understands every player develops at his own pace.

"My dad was a sixth overall pick, and I am pretty sure he played two full years in the minors (before making his NHL debut). My brother was actually a fourth-round draft pick, and he went to the NHL faster than my dad did. It goes to show that it does not really matter when you get in. It is all about getting your foot in the door, and then it is up to you to stay there. Somebody is always coming for your job, and if you're not coming for somebody else's job, then you're not doing the right things every day."

The 29th overall pick will return to the Comets for the 2024-25 season, where he will continue to grow his game and work his way toward making his long-awaited NHL debut.

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