New Jersey Devils: Prospects to Watch at World Junior Championships

With the World Junior Championships set to kick off in Buffalo next week, it’s time to take a look at New Jersey Devils prospects who may have an impact.

Canada

Michael McLeod

McLeod missed the start of his OHL season due to an injury suffered in preseason with the Devils.  In 11 games with the Mississauga Steelheads Mcleod has eight goals and five assists.  This is Mcleod’s second WJC tournament.

Mcleod should find himself in a leadership role on this team, and has a chance to really showcase himself. I’m expecting a big tournament from Mcleod.  He looked great at the WJC Summer Showcase and looked like he was ready to make this Devils team prior to his injury.

USA

Joey Anderson

Anderson was just named the Captain of Team USA.  Like Mcleod, he suffered through some early injuries at the start of his season. However, he has 9 points through 13 games at the University of Minnestoa-Duluth.

Anderson should see himself in a major role for Team USA and is already receiving high praise from Coach Bob Motzko.

Reilly Walsh

Reilly Walsh was a surprise addition to the Team USA roster.  A 3^rd round pick this year, he’s had a good start to his career at Harvard.  In 10 games, he’s posted eight points.  Walsh still isn’t a lock to make the roster as they currently have 10 defenseman, but it seems he’s got a very good chance.  This would be a huge accomplishment for the 18-year-old right shot defenseman and a sign of good things to come for New Jersey.

Sweden

Jesper Boqvist

Jesper Boqvist, like Mcleod and Anderson, suffered an early injury and has just recently started skating again.  The 2^nd round pick should factor in as a top scorer for Sweden this year.  He has five points in four games for Brynas U20 team and one goal and one assist in four games in the SHL.

Fabian Zetterlund

Zetterlund was a 3^rd round pick this year and is still only 18 years old.  He has six points in only five games with Farjestad U20, but only has two points in 26 games in the SHL.  Zetterlund likely need another couple years before he’s ready for the NHL but could factor in big for Sweden this year.

Russia

Mikhail Maltsev

The 19-year-old 4^th round pick has split his year between all three levels of SKA St. Petersburg’s system.  In 17 KHL games he has 5 points.  Maltsev, like other Russian players, raises the question of if he’ll ever come to the states to play for New Jersey.

This is will be the first good look at Maltsev for many Devils fans as he wasn’t at prospect camp this year.

Yegor Zaitsev

Zaitsev was an intriguing 7^th round selection this year.  He’s spent his entire season in the KHL with Dynamo Moskva where he has 2 assists and is a -1 in 25 games.  Much like Maltsev this will be the first real opportunity many Devils fans get to watch Zaitsev play.

Slovakia

Marian Studenic

Last but certainly not least for this list is Marian Studenic.  Studenic was a 5^th round pick this year and has been tearing it up in the OHL.  He has 13 goals and 17 assists in 32 games and is a plus 15 so far.  This isn’t Studenic’s first WJC but he should be a major contributor this time around.  It’s clear he’s made some major improvements to his game over the past year.

Next: New Jersey Devils: How Does Nico Hischier Stack Up To Recent Teenage Players?

Notable Devils Left Off:

Nikita Popugaev

Popugaev left Prince George of the WHL 13 games into the season due to family reasons and signed with CSKA Moskva of the KHL. He’s split time between the VHL and KHL since then and seemed a logical player to fit into Russia’s WJC team.

However, since he already returned home for family reasons I’d imagine he has little to no desire to travel to Buffalo for the WJC.

Aarne Talvitie

Talvitie played for Finland at the WJC Summer Showcase and looked good.  He has 33 points in 26 games for the U20 Blues in Finland where he’s captaining the team.  He likely would have slotted in as a bottom six player.

Committed to Penn State next year Devils fans should get a great look at him next year and he’ll have a really good shot at making Finland’s U20 team.

It looks like the Devils will have 8 prospects playing in the tournament this year with two eligible players, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, actively on the Devils roster.  This should be an exciting tournament with a good look at the future for the New Jersey Devils.