The New Jersey Devils went into the 2025 NHL Draft with six picks, and they left with six new prospects. Many believe they did a good job adding to the prospect pool, but how do we think they did?
Conrad Fondrk (C)
Second-Round Pick, 50th overall
U.S. NTDP | USHL / US National U18
A cerebral catalyst with elite spatial awareness and hockey IQ, Conrad Fondrk brings a measured creativity that aligns perfectly with New Jersey’s pace-and-possession structure. His game is driven by mental clarity under pressure, often processing multiple options before the play unfolds. Fondrk’s puck skills are fluid—he can slither through tight checks or feather high-difficulty passes across seams with surgical touch.
Offensively, he thrives in layers, executing give-and-gos, freezing defenders with deceptive body language, and manipulating puck movement as if orchestrating a set play. His snapshot off the curl is quick, accurate, and deceptive, making him dangerous even without a wind-up.
While not a punishing forechecker, he’s an anticipatory defender who reads puck movement well and breaks plays with smart stick work and positioning. His versatility at center and potential wing adds value in a multi-line deployment.
Fondrk's chessmaster approach—thinking two moves ahead—makes him a natural fit in a Devils lineup seeking skilled, high-IQ forwards who can drive structured offense without sacrificing detail. Had it not been for a season with injury problems, the Devils likely wouldn't have gotten this huge value of a player from the potential 1st round
Ben Kevan (W)
Second-Round Pick, 63rd overall
Des Moines Buccaneers [USHL]
The New Jersey Devils’ selection of Benjamin Kevan reflects a calculated effort to bring in a hard-nosed, playoff-style forward with dual-threat ability. Kevan plays like a wrecking ball with touch, crashing the net, finding seams, and making sharp plays in heavy traffic. His game thrives in the trenches, especially around the crease and the boards, where he’s both disruptive and opportunistic.
What separates Kevan from other bottom-six crashers is his vision under duress. He can make surgical passes from behind the net or while engaged physically—threading feeds to the slot that lead to Grade-A chances. He hunts rebounds, tracks pucks in chaos, and generates offense from second and third opportunities.
Skating-wise, Kevan isn’t elite but moves well enough to get inside positioning and apply forecheck pressure. His stride is efficient, and he maintains strong balance when absorbing contact. He plays a mature, coachable game with above-average decision-making—something Lindy Ruff and Sheldon Keefe value in system-driven roles.
Whether it’s as a net-front agitator on the power play, a grinder in the bottom six, or an energy spark in high-leverage playoff minutes, Kevan offers high floor value with flashes of middle-six upside.
Mason Moe (C)
Third-Round Pick, 90th overall
Madison Capitols [USHL]
The Devils took a swing on Mason Moe, a big-bodied forward with underrated skill and sneaky offensive upside, from one of the USHL’s most competitive battlegrounds. Moe plays like a modern power forward. He skates well for his size, doesn’t shy from contact, and can break defenders down with strength rather than flash. He’s the type of player who thrives outside the dots, using his frame to protect the puck, draw coverage, and attack from wide lanes with intent.
Despite projecting more as a winger at the NHL level, Moe has played center effectively, showing flashes of possession-driving capability with disciplined positioning and effort on the forecheck. His wrist shot is highly underrated—quick off the blade with deceptive power, especially off the rush or when cutting into space.
Moe isn’t a finesse distributor, but he makes the smart, short-range plays that keep offensive flow alive. His board work, battle presence, and ability to create chaos around the net align with a rugged, playoff-style identity. While he’ll need to refine his reads and off-puck movement, the physical tools, coachability, and north-south drive are already NHL-aligned.
In short, Moe is a system-ready grinder with top-nine upside, built for the trenches and the tempo of postseason hockey.
Trenten Bennett (G)
Fourth-Round Pick, 99th overall
Kemptville 73s [CCHL]
With the selection of Trenten Bennett, the Devils added the tallest goaltender in the draft—a 6'8" overager whose rare frame is matched by surprising fluidity. Bennett isn’t just big—he’s disciplined, poised, and quietly athletic, making him more than just a "size pick." His lateral movement is smooth for his size, with clean edgework and strong post-to-post efficiency.
Despite his towering build, Bennett doesn’t overcommit or overplay angles. He keeps plays in front of him and rarely chases pucks. Once he drops to his knees, he still fills the upper portion of the net due to his long torso and reach, making glove-side targets hard to exploit. His calm presence in the crease stabilizes chaotic moments, and he rarely bites on initial fakes or screens.
While still raw in terms of rebound control and puck handling, his technical foundation and upside resemble Ben Bishop, a goalie who could anchor a system if developed properly. Bennett may start as a depth option, but with time, goaltending coach Dave Rogalski could mold him into a legitimate No. 2 or future tandem partner, especially in high-traffic playoff environments.
In a Devils system looking for long-term goalie depth beyond Šimon Nemec’s defensive support group, Bennett adds a unique blend of size, calm, and potential
Gustav Hillstrom (C)
Fourth-Round Pick, 114th overall
Brynas Jr.
With one of their final picks, the Devils took a high-upside swing on Gustav Hillström, a Swedish forward known for his hands, vision, and offensive flair. He’s the kind of late-round wildcard pick that can become a value gem if the right development environment supports his growth. Hillström boasts above-average speed, soft hands in motion, and a deceptive shot that can beat goalies from sharp angles.
He has legit dangling ability, often beating defenders one-on-one and creating space through creative stick handling. His vision in the offensive zone is solid, particularly off the cycle or on controlled entries. However, Hillström’s biggest challenge lies in his first few steps—his acceleration lacks the explosiveness needed to consistently separate at pro speed, which can neutralize some of his skill game.
Still, with time, added lower-body strength, and refinement of his skating mechanics, there’s a middle-six offensive upside here, particularly as a wing on a skill line or second-unit power play option. He’s not a safe pick, but he fits the Devils' mold of betting on speed, skill, and vision in the later rounds.
If he hits, Hillström could become a European surprise contributor, much like Jesper Bratt once was.
David Rosival (W)
Sixth-Round Pick, 161st overall
Liberic Jr.
In classic Devils fashion, New Jersey may have uncovered a late-round sleeper in David Rozsíval, a relentless, high-IQ winger with elite straight-line speed and a motor that never cuts out. His style mirrors that of Michael Grabner, flying up the wing and pressuring defenders into rushed plays. But Rozsíval isn’t just a north-south burner—he knows how to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone, using quick reads, smart angles, and tenacious second efforts.
Rozsíval thrives in net-front chaos, winning scrambles, jamming loose pucks, and positioning himself just right for rebound conversions. His timing around the crease is subtle but effective, and he often beats defenders to spots others miss. That makes him a disruptive presence even when not on the scoresheet.
His game is ideal for a bottom-six role with upward mobility. As he fills out and gains experience against stronger competition, he could thrive as a speed forechecker, a penalty killer, or even a spark-plug winger on a scoring line thanks to his IQ and anticipation.
Rozsíval may not be flashy, but his speed, persistence, and smart detail work are the kind of traits that show up in the playoffs—when every puck battle and backcheck matters.
Sigge Holmgren (D)
Sixth-Round Pick, 178th overall
Brynas Jr.
According to Daniel Amoia of The Hockey Writers, Sigge Holmgren was a surprising and virtually unknown pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2025 NHL Draft:
Elite Prospects does not have Holmgren listed on any major outlet’s draft board, but the Devils selected him nonetheless. In fact, when scouring the internet, it’s near impossible to find anything related to Holmgren and the 2025 draft. Despite being off most radars, there must be something the Devils saw."
— Daniel Amoia, The Hockey Writers
Amoia notes that Holmgren is labeled as an offensive defenseman, recording 16 points in 18 games with Brynäs IF’s U18 team. However, he only tallied a single point in five appearances at the U20 level. This disparity suggests that while Holmgren was highly productive against his own age group, the step up in competition exposed areas that still need development.
Despite the lack of exposure and limited scouting footage, the Devils may have taken a calculated gamble here. Selecting Holmgren could be part of a broader strategy: targeting raw, under-scouted European talent with upside that traditional rankings overlook. With Swedish defensemen historically having a strong development track, it's possible that New Jersey’s European scouting department saw projectable traits in Holmgren — such as mobility, offensive instincts, or transitional ability — that stats and public visibility don't capture.
Holmgren’s U18 scoring rate (0.89 PPG) suggests he has puck-moving potential, particularly if he operated as a power-play quarterback or was relied upon for zone exits. His limited U20 output may not be alarming for a player adjusting to stronger, older opponents mid-season. Often, that transition period is where late bloomers show their first cracks of high-end promise.
It’s also worth noting that some NHL teams intentionally scout off-the-grid players — not for immediate return, but to retain their exclusive rights while they develop overseas. Holmgren may not crack NHL projections today, but if he plays a full season in Sweden’s J20 Nationell or earns SHL minutes next year, his stock could rise dramatically.
Conclusion:
While Amoia rightly points out the mystery surrounding Holmgren’s draft selection, history has shown that some NHL success stories come from obscurity. If Holmgren takes a step forward in 2025–26 — particularly in Sweden’s pro leagues — the Devils' quiet gamble could age better than expected. The biggest wild card is Gustav Hillstrom, especially because he is a bit more of a project, but he can definitely take his time before age 22 and turn things around. The one potential steal not named Trenten Bennett is David Rozsival, where the speed, tenacity, and net mouse scramble is tough to find in some players these days. Would love to see him become a future bottom-six third-line winger who scores a lot.