NOTEBOOK: Devils 2024 Development Camp Recap

NEWARK, N.J. -- This week the New Jersey Devils held their 2024 Development Camp. Over the past four days 29 young hockey players hit the ice at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House.

Development camp is the final event the club will hold before training camp opens up in September. It allows players to further develop their skills on the ice and learn what it takes to be a pro. For fans, it provides them an opportunity to see their favorite prospects who they otherwise would not see play.

Below is a recap of the sights and sounds from the past few days.

ROSTER

Forwards: Jack Malone, Kasper Pikkarainen, Cole Brown, Samu Salminen, Dylan Wendt, Cam Squires, Josh Filmon, Petr Hauser, Chase Stillman, Herman Traff, Max Graham, Matyas Melovsky, and Doug Grimes.

Defensemen: Topias Vilen, Anton Silayev, Chase Cheslock, Seamus Casey, Daniil Karpovich, Viktor Hurtig, Ethan Edwards, Mikael Diotte, Spencer Sova, Charlie Leddy, Jackson Van De Leest, and Daniil Orlov.

Goaltenders: Tyler Brennen, Veeti Louhivaara, Ajay White, and Jakub Malek.

SCHEDULE

Sunday, June 30

Players Report to Prudential Center

Monday, July 1

11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Full Practice

1:15 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Community Event at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Tuesday, July 2

9:00 A.M. - 10:20 A.M. Practice for Defensemen & Goaltenders

11:00 A.M. to 12:20 P.M. Practice for Forwards and Goaltenders

Wednesday, July 3

11:30 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. Three-on-Three Tournament Open to Season Ticket Holders

OBSERVATIONS

- The Devils are getting bigger; there is no doubt about it. All three goaltenders in attendance who New Jersey drafted are listed at 6-foot-4, ranging from 190 to 207 pounds. Three of their defensemen, including their 10th overall Anton Silayev , are 6-foot-6 or taller, and four of their young forwards are already over 200 pounds.

- Speaking of Silayev, he is impressive to watch. He is listed at 6-foot-7, 207 pounds, and as others have said, he skates like a player who is 5-foot-10. That turn at the end of the video below is very Jesper Bratt-esque, if you ask me. Devils fans have a reason to be excited about this young blueliner.

- During the first couple of days of development and training camp, I like to take a few minutes and see which players naturally catch my eye before I hone in on anyone in particular. This week, the player who got my attention was 2024 third-round draft pick Herman Traff from Vaxjo, Sweden. In addition to his large frame (6-foot-3, 216 pounds), you can see he plays with that physical edge every NHL team is looking for.

UTICA BOUND

Three of the Devils prospects in attendance plan to play for the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2024-25 season.

Young defensemen Casey and Diotte are expected to man the Comets' blue line, while Filmon will make the jump from the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Something to note: Malek, who signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Devils in May, shared he will spend at least one more year in Liiga before making the jump to North America.

PROSPECTS REVEAL WHO STOOD OUT TO THEM DURING CAMP

"I can always say, Chase Stillman . He had some pretty good shots and pretty nice goals today (at the three-on-three tournament). Someone a little newer is Cole Brown. The way (Brown) sees the game, he finds the right play pretty much every time, and he has a pretty lethal shot. He stood out to me last year, and he stood out again this year." - Tyler Brennen.

"Ethan Edwards, just a really incredible display of hard work. He had five goals (at the three-on-three tournament), and none of them were very pretty. He is just getting to the right spots. Ajay White was really good today, too. He stood on his head in that last game of the tournament." - Josh Filmon.

"I thought Herman Traff had a great three-on-three tournament. He is really good with the puck. I thought Jack Malone was pretty good out there; he had a couple of snipes, blocked a huge shot, and got back in the game, which is pretty gritty for a three-on-three in the summer." - Seamus Casey.

"I think Petr Hauser is a phenomenal player. He's big, he's fast and moves well, good on his edges. He has a cannon of a shot. I like his game. If I was a forward or a younger kid with a big body, I would try to model my game after him. It is kind of a new hockey style where he is big and fast but also has the skill to keep up and play with the smaller guys. I really enjoy watching him play. - Charlie Leddy.