The New Jersey Devils got the luck of the draw when they were up to pick at the 2024 NHL Draft. Thanks to surprise picks by the Anaheim Ducks (Beckett Sennecke) and Ottawa Senators (Carter Yakemchuk), there were some incredible prospects available at 10th overall. The Devils had their choice between three incredible defensemen: Anton Silayev, Sam Dickinson, and Zeev Buium.
The Devils went with the guy often described as a "unicorn." Anton Silayev was the top ranked international skater in the draft, ranking ahead of Ivan Demidov according to NHL Central Scouting. He stands at 6'7 and skates like the wind. He has more U18 points in the KHL than anyone in history. That's more than Alex Ovechkin, Kirill Kaprizov, and yes, Ivan Demidov. Yet, many were still critical of this pick.
It's a high risk, high reward pick. Silayev could be the next Zdeno Chara. He could one day be a Hall-of-Fame level defenseman. That ceiling isn't always available at 10 overall. However, the floor in underground. If he doesn't acclimate to the North American skating surface, if his terrible KHL team ruins his development, or if he delays his arrival to New Jersey, it could become a bust.
Meanwhile, the Devils could have taken another potential superstar in Zeev Buium. Buium also has an incredibly high floor. Barring injury, there seems to be no world where he's less than a great second-line defenseman. It's much more likely he becomes a star on the left side.
A recent article by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler confirms that, at least in winter 2025, the Devils didn't choose the right defenseman. Wheeler ranked the top 100 drafted prospects across the world, and Buium came in as the second-best player on the list. Only Ivan Demidov was ranked ahead of him.
New rankings show the Devils should have drafted Zeev Buium over Anton Silayev
Wheeler points out Zuium's ability to rise to the occassion and points out how he's hit his stride in college. Buium had a coming-out party at the World Junior Championship a few weeks ago, putting together a clinic for the Americans on their way to a gold medal. Meanwhile, Silayev, who was ranked 13th on the list by Wheeler, was not allowed to participate in World Juniors. While that's not his fault, it is an important development pillar that won't be a part of his resume.
It's incredibly early, but the early returns are so far in Buium's favor that it will be hard for Silayev to overcome at this point. However, the Devils likely aren't worried. The presence of Luke Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler on the left side gives them time to be patient with Silayev, hoping he grows into the unicorn they splurged on.
Other Devils defensemen like Seamus Casey and Simon Nemec also made the list. We recommend you read Wheeler's write up on them, as it gives interesting insight about where they might take their careers.