New Jersey Devils Sign 1st-Round Pick Chase Stillman To Three-Year Deal
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils shocked a lot of people when they went off the board to take Chase Stillman in the 1st round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The Devils traded Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to get this pick, and there were rumors they were dangling the pick to get a player in a trade, but they ended up drafting someone they probably could have selected in the 2nd round.
The only issue is the Devils traded their 2nd-round pick in the Ryan Graves trade. It was well worth it to get a good left-handed defenseman for the pick and Mikhail Maltsev, but it forces the Devils to choose between the best player available or a player they are in love with. It seems like the Devils did the same thing last season when they over-drafted defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin when better prospects were on the board.
Still, the Devils signing Stillman this early in the process is interesting. The right wing was mostly ranked in the 90s when it came to prospect rankings before the draft. That is a 4th-round pick for those trying to count at home. He comes from an NHL lineage, with his dad Corey playing for the Flames, Blues, Lightning, and Hurricanes during his career. His brother Riley Stillman is a prospect in the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Stillman is a nonstop player. He never gives up on a play, and his motor is his greatest asset. There will never be a worry about him giving up on a play. There are very few records of him taking a break on the ice or watching a play too long. He’s always moving. That’s a major positive, especially since he’s already a pretty good skater.
The issue with Stillman is nothing seems to be elite. His shot is fine, his passing is fine, his skating is good, his defense is good, and his agility is good. He has a lot going for him, but he’s on the smaller side of 6’1 forwards and everything needs to work out for him to make a push in the NHL.
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That doesn’t mean this is automatically a bad pick. People seem to be intrigued by the Devils’ choice to jump on Stillman. There were definitely worse picks at the end of the 1st round, so the Devils are off the hook in the national conversation, but it’s still something to watch.
What’s the plan now? He just signed a three-year entry-level deal that will pay him $925,000 on the NHL level between salary and signing bonus. That’s according to Cap Friendly. He will make $80,000 in the minor leagues. Does that mean he is automatically going to the AHL as an 18 year old? Not at all. Stillman had a weird year last season as the Sudberry Wolves and the OHL never got off the ground so he went to play in Denmark. He ended up scoring 16 points in Denmark’s U20 league. He also had four points in seven games for Team Canada at the U18 World Junior Championships.
Stillman has a clear role at the NHL level. He can score, but his real role is a bottom-six forward who can force the other team to chase (no pun intended). It seems best for him to get another season of juniors under his belt, but it’s clear he will get an invite to training camp at the very list with his signing. It adds another young body to what should be an incredibly competitive camp. His playstyle does fit into what Lindy Ruff wants to do, but he’s still too early in the process to have a long-term outlook.