The NHL players in the New Jersey Devils organization won't be the only ones competing for some championship accolades next season, at least if you believe the oddsmakers.
Looking forward to the 2025-26 NCAA hockey season, Penn State, which just landed superstar prospect Gavin McKenna, has the highest odds to win the NCAA title, coming in at +400.
Right behind McKenna and Co., though? None other than a Devils triumvirate of goalie Mikhail Yegorov, forward Conrad Fondrk, head coach Jay Pandolfo, and Boston University at +800.
Former third-round pick Samu Salminen, a transfer from UConn, and his University of Denver are tied for fifth at +1200.
Who’s your pick to win it all? 👀
— EVERYTHING COLLEGE HOCKEY (@TeamECH) July 13, 2025
DraftKings just dropped the latest NCAA title odds, and Penn State leads the pack at +400.
BU, Michigan State, Minnesota, and more all in the hunt. pic.twitter.com/1beuxk76wn
Devils prospects and their respective schools not featured atop the DraftKings' preliminary odds include Ben Kevan and Arizona State University, Charlie Leddy and Quinnipiac, Chase Cheslock and St. Thomas, Viktor Hurtig and Michigan Tech, as well as Cole Brown and Notre Dame.
The last time a player drafted by the Devils won the NCAA championship was back in 2017-18, when Joey Anderson won with the University of Minnesota-Duluth before turning pro and making his NHL debut the following year.
To find the most recent Devils winners preceding Anderson, we'll have to go back to the years 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1998 to find names like Matt DeMarchi, Paul Martin, Barry Tallackson, Scott Clemmensen, Brian Gionta, Mike Commodore, and Mike Van Ryn.
Basically, if Yegorov, Fondrk, or Salminen can find some collegiate success this year and win some hardware, they'll be joining a rather exclusive club, for better or for worse, when it comes to Devils prospects in the 21st century. Yegorov and newly signed Devils prospect Shane Lachance came very close last year. They lost in the championship game to Western Michigan.
And, for what it's worth, former Devils defenseman Will Butcher, who was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, won the NCAA championship the year before Anderson. He came off that championship win and immediately signed with New Jersey after spurning the Avs.