The New Jersey Devils are excited about the prospects they have in the system. There are a few who are heading to the NHL next season, including Arseni Gritsyuk and Lenni Hameenaho. The former of which came over from the KHL, which is where the Devils' 2024 first-round pick Anton Silayev plays. Well, that's where he plays full-time. His team decided to let him play in the Russian minor leagues, and Silayev took full advantage.
Before we get into that, let's take a quick look at Silayev's first season after the draft. He played most of the year with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. That team plays in the city that bears its name, but it's not one of the top teams. While this isn't a popular city around the world, it's the sixth-largest city in Russia. It has a similar population as Dallas, Texas.
However, it's not the most popular team in the KHL. That allowed Silayev to get huge playing time. At just 18 years old, Silayev played more than 17 minutes per game. He also had 12 point. While that's not a lot in the grand scheme of things, he's one of the highest scoring 18 year olds in the KHL that season.
Silayev helped Torpedo make the playoffs, but they only lasted four games. So, when his season ended, his team decided to let him play with the VHL team, Torpedo Gorky.
Silayev played a big defensive game for this team, and he helped them go all the way. Torpedo took home the Petrov Cup, giving the Devils first-round pick important playoff experience. They played 17 games with Silayev in the lineup, and it was the only games he played with them all season. Chemistry did not matter when a player is as talented as Silayev. Even though it was against lesser competition, winning on this stage is important at such a young age.
Anton Silayev got the most important win of his career prior to his New Jersey Devils career
For one, giving a player a taste of championship hockey means he will demand it for the rest of his career. He knows what it takes to win, and most importantly, he knows when it looks different. He will bring that experience to the Devils whenever he decides to sign in North America.
It's a big deal when prospects get this opportunity. It's not happening with his KHL unless there is some sort of miracle. Getting it in the VHL is the next best thing.