New Jersey Devils Postseason Top 25 Prospects

Aarne Talvitie had a chance to be one of the Devils’ top prospects, but ever since he suffered a knee injury in the World Junior Championships, he hasn’t been the same. He finished his Penn State career this past season when he signed his entry-level deal once his season ended, and he got some time in the AHL. He ramped up his goal scoring this season, lighting the lamp seven times in 21 games. In Binghamton, he seemed a little overmatched. He only got three points in 18 games. Still, he has a ton of upside and last season must have been a whirlwind for him. Let’s see how he does with a regular season in Utica.

Marian Studenic is back to being an exciting prospect after he struggled two seasons ago. He’s had a roller coaster development process, but it looks like he’s on track to show his true potential next season. He was all over the place, but he got his first true NHL shot. He had a goal and an assist in eight games and didn’t look completely out of place. There are still aspects to his game he needs to fix, but there’s something here. He’s not ready to be in the NHL full time, but without going back and forth between Slovakia he should be able to get comfortable in North America next season.

Ethan Edwards had a very good post-draft season in the USHL, and now he’s headed to a stacked University of Michigan defense that could boast Owen Power, Luke Hughes, and other top prospects. This could impact his ice time at first, but Edwards has shown a knack for forcing his way into more time. His playstyle and aggressiveness will prove itself in practice, and that should force Mel Pearson to get him some time in the games. His speed is unlike most defensemen, and he’s going to be a joy to follow as he plays on one of the best programs in college hockey.

Arseni Gritzyuk got on the map for Devils fans during the World Junior Championships when he shined for an underperforming Russia team. He had four points in six games before an injury ended his tournament. He was able to come back for the KHL playoffs, where he got in three games for Avangard. They ended up winning the Gargarin Cup, so the team is clearly stacked. Gritsyuk is expected to play a bigger role next season after signing an extension to play in Russia through 2023.

Nikita Okhotyuk was able to grow right in front of our eyes. He was good at times for the Binghamton Devils despite the team as a whole struggling for most of the season. He is showing himself as a good defensive defenseman at a young age. The former 2nd-round pick was supposed to spend his season in the OHL, but with their season perpetually in flux, he got to the AHL a season early. It seemed like it was best for his development. The Devils could use some good defensive prospects who focus on their own end, and that’s exactly what the team is getting out of Okhotyuk.