New Jersey Devils: How Prospects Are Doing Outside The U.S.

With the NHL still planning a late start and most North American leagues still not playing, things are rather quiet for what should be the start of the season. Some New Jersey Devils prospects are playing overseas and have enough of a sample size to take a look at where they are in their development.

Sweden

Jesper Boqvist

Jesper is currently back home in Sweden playing for Timrå IK of  Hockey Allsvenskan, the country’s second league. His team is finding early success, which is fantastic to see for a developing player, winning 10 or their 13 games so far. Boqvist is sharing in his teams success so far with 3 goals and 7 points in his 12 games.

This is what the Devils need to see from the young 22 year old, having him playing good minutes on a successful team and contributing to that success. With the AHL season seemingly up in the air still and his spot not guaranteed in the NHL, it may be better to leave him in Sweden this year. He still has the potential to be a good middle-six player in New Jersey, but having him just practicing or playing in half the games in a lower role would not be as productive to his future or that of this team. While the spot is very likely open on the first line with Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri, it is unlikely Boqvist is ready for it so why move someone having success.

Fabian Zetterland

Also playing in the second tier in Sweden is Fabian Zetterland. He has only played six games so far but managed three points. It is too small a sample size to take much of anything out of it, but we can hope he manages better than half a point per game pace over the course of the season in a lower league.

Alexander Holtz

The Devils seventh-overall pick this year, Alexander Holtz has only played 10 games this season, and has lived up to his draft position. With seven points already and four goals, he is doing exactly what the Devils need and drafted him for. His development looks to be trending the right way and he should be ready to come over next year to play top six with Jack Hughes or Hischier. Unfortunately, though, we will need to wait for more games to get a real good sample size this season.

Russia

Shakir Mukhamadullin

Shakir Mukhamadullin was a huge reach by the Devils in the 1st round of the NHL draft. However, right after he was taken, he caught fire in the KHL. It makes the Devils were right in taking this huge risk. Since then, he has slowed way down from the hot streak and currently sits at two goals and seven points in 24 games.

As a defensemen, this is not all one should look at though and it is good to see his minutes are up still, though lower than the start of the season. Last year, he averaged barely over three minutes a game. It would have been impossible to really get anything going but this season he is sitting at a more respectable 13 minutes a game. This should allow him to develop properly and his confidence will grow a lot more than if he was sitting on the bench all game so good things could be coming for the young man.

Mikhail Maltsev

Skilled forward Mikhail Maltsev is back in his home country of Russia playing for the always good SKA St.Petersburg. So far, he has played four games of his team’s 23, not good for development but really not a surprise. It always seems to be the case with younger Russian players. It would be nice to see him down in the MHL or VHL getting 15 minutes a night, but all fans can do is hope this works out and doesn’t stunt his growth.

Yegor Sharangovich

Not a name seen on Devils prospect listings with any consistency prior to the season, Yegor Sharangovich has actually managed a strong start of the season with Dinamo Minsk. The 22 year old has 12 points in 21 games, which is rather good for his age and a 5th-round pick. The real stand out part is he has 10 goals already. This ties his AHL goals total from last season in 57 games, showing he’s taken a huge step forward. It’s all the more impressive by doing it in the second best league in the world.

If he can find a level of consistency over there. he might be a bet to play an NHL role one day. The Devils are desperate for goal scorers right now. If he can play that role here with the right chemistry, it could pan out quite well. While still far from a sure thing it is another player trending the right direction which is the best one can hope for.

Canada

Dawson Mercer

The QMJHL started up late this season, but is going unlike the other leagues in Canada. Dawson Mercer and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens have played five games this season. The Devils second 1st-round pick this year is once again off to a great start to the season. He has four goals and seven points. While not the most sustainable goal pace as a 19 year old who last season put up well over a point a game he should build on that and be pushing for more.

The OHL is likely to start sometime soon, possibly without hitting, so players like Graeme Clarke, Michael Vukojevic and Nico Daws will start to get some games. If things start to get back to normal it will help the young players because taking a full year off could really set them back versus the players who are playing competitive hockey.