The New Jersey Devils have a strong cupboard of prospects. With the World Junior Championship happening now and the New Year turning those calendars to 2024, it's the right time to take a look at some prospects fans should be keeping a keen eye on this year.
Lenni Hämeenaho
Lenni Hameenaho is a Finnish sniper who stands at a similar frame to current New Jersey Devils goal scorer Tyler Toffoli. Like Toffoli, he is a shoot-first player with an NHL-caliber shot that gets off fast and accurately. The Finnish winger may not be the fastest player, but he can certainly outsmart his opponents by finding the open ice to finish his shots on net.
At this year's World Juniors, he has two goals and five points through the group stage for Finland. He has shown that he can play a bit chippy behind the opponent's net and showing that he is not willing to back down. He has potted 22 goals and 34 points in 51 Liiga games. For those who are wondering, he is under contract in Finland until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Daniil Karpovich
For those asking for a Sasquatch on defense and someone who can shut down opposing offenses, you must look at Daniil Karpovich. Unlike Shakir Mukhamadullin, who was a bit taller and not very built when it comes to muscle mass, this is where the stark differences occur.
Daniil Karpovich is 6'3 and 209lb vs Skakir Mukhamadullin's 190lb 6'4 frame. In Belarus, Karpovich is focusing more on his defensive game. For Neman Grodno, he has shown to be a very physically strong man who can prevent a lot of high-danger scoring chances and does have a really good wrist shot that can beat goalies and generate rebounds.
Last season, he pounded in 10 goals and 35 points while in the MHL, but he has been focusing on refining his defensive play in a new league this season. He wins 60% of his puck battles via In-Stat and yields 0.83 hits a game. If you are looking at him in the next few seasons, he could easily be a second or third-line pairing at the NHL level, and having him come to play in Utica when he is indeed ready will make Coach Dineen's defense corps steep with physicality, grit, and lots of size that can be prepared to possibly make people realize that there is a hidden gem after trading away Shakir Mukhamadullin in the Timo Meier deal.