New Jersey Devils Top 25 Prospects Prior To 2019-20 Season

15. Nikita Popugaev

Nikita Popugaev had a heck of a start to his career. It’s been well documented how he was thrown through different leagues and teams before finally ending up with the Binghamton Devils. It’s not often a hockey player has this kid’s combination of size and skill. He’s 6’6 but can stick handle with some of the better prospects. Popugaev should have a really nice season now that he can have a training camp with the same team’s he’s spending the entire season. The Devils will do everything to help this kid succeed, and we expect a huge jump in points.

14. Matthew Hellickson

Matthew Hellickson is a defenseman we expect a lot out of this season. He’s going into his junior season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and we know how important this season is for player and team. If the Devils see what they want out of Hellickson this season, they will try to sign him before his senior season. If they let him play out the string, they could lose him to free agency. We expect a big season from him. He’s got great passing instincts and can use his agility to make a play.

13. Marian Studenic

Marian Studenic is a player that’s hard to peg to a specific ranking. His season with Binghamton started great with goals in the first two games of the season. However, he started to see the talent on the team take a drastic hit when some of the best players were forced to play in New Jersey thanks to all of the injuries. He ended the season with just 28 points in 64 games. It wasn’t the end they were looking for, but the wheels fell off the Binghamton thanks to injuries and losing Mackenzie Blackwood. This season will be the real test for the former 5th-round pick. He’s had a keen eye when it matters, scoring 15 points in 21 playoff games while playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2018. Last season, he had five points in the World Championships playing for Slovakia. Studenic steps up when he has to, he just has to learn how to be consistent.

12. Graeme Clarke

Graeme Clarke is higher on our list than he probably is on other experts’ lists, but we are incredibly high on Clarke. He is the ultimate boom or bust pick, but his boom could be star power. Clarke was hurt by playing on an absolutely loaded Ottawa 67s team, but he turned it up a notch in the playoffs. He scored 14 points in 18 games. Analysts were all over the map on this kid, but we’re are thrilled with this pick. Could it end up flaming out? Sure, but we think with this kids skill, he just needs someone to keep him consistent.

11. Brett Seney

Brett Seney was given the chance to become a full-time NHL player last season, but his results were up and down. Despite getting 51 games with New Jersey last season, most people aren’t even considering for the Devils final spot on the roster. Some give prospects with zero NHL experience a better chance to make the team. He was much better in the AHL than the NHL, scoring .73 points per game in Bingo over .25 in New Jersey. There was a clear development during the season, but we needed to see more. A full season in the AHL should help him build confidence and eventually come in for an injured player.