Very few people expected the New Jersey Devils to miss the playoffs in 2024, much less finish as the 10th-worst team in the league. Looking past the gloom and dismay, however, this season provided the chance for the Devils to pick a true difference-maker at pick 10 in the 2024 NHL Draft. Though players like Zeev Buium, Sam Dickinson, and Konsta Helenius fell from their expected placements, the Devils opted to draft another falling defenseman: Anton Silayev.
Silayev's rankings were among the most varied in the draft sphere. Bob McKenzie of TSN ranked Silayev as his fourth-best prospect, while the EP Prospect crew placed him 12th. And there is valid reason for why Silayev's value has been difficult to ascertain.
Silayev started the year on fire, scoring six points in his first six KHL games as a 17-year-old. This quickly put him on the international radar, with many wondering if he could challenge Macklin Celebrini for the coveted first-round pick status. That, evidently, did not come to pass, as Silayev scored five points in the remaining 57 games of the season. Still, there is much to be excited about him as a player.
The most obvious point and positive of his game are the physical attributes he brings. At 6'7 and 200 lbs, he is one of the biggest hockey players in history. However, it is really his ability to move and skate around the ice that makes Silayev truly impressive. His stance and mechanics are wonderful, not just for a player of height/weight but rather any size. His backward skating is a sight to behold, as he covers planes of ice to take away time and space from opponents, particularly off the rush.
To pair with his physical gifts, Silayev possesses adequate defensive IQ and an understanding of where he should place himself on the ice. He can beat players to the board to send pucks out of the zone, and he can use his size to shrug off oncoming forwards. And his general sense of timing and presence are pretty solid for a player of his age.
He is not without his flaws, however. While he thinks and reads the game decently, he particularly struggles with "between-the-leg" plays or when the puck moves quickly behind him. He lacks the strength to consistently win board battles and can look like a deer on skates at times. It is evident that he is not completely used to being this big while playing hockey.
When it comes to his offense, there is quite little to talk about at this stage. To me, Silayev plays offense in a style where he does not like/want to be held responsible. He generally plays safe, opting for point shots and D-to-D passes to keep the flow of the team going. But with his physical tools, you hope that he is able to gain that extra bit of confidence to drop the shoulder and attack the center of the ice at times.
His struggles on offense make a lot more sense when we examine his puck skills and zone-transition abilities. Hockey, and sports in general, are built upon skills that will manifest their importance in many ways. Players who are good offensively will often have skills that are important elsewhere. This is particularly the case in many smaller, more offensive-leaning players who need to be shifty and quick to beat forecheckers offensive-leaning and move the puck along. That same shiftiness and comfort on the puck allows them to walk the blueline and get shots through the opposing defense. While Silayev possesses shiftiness at times, his raw puck skills show up in all three zones, and not in a good way. He seems uncomfortable taking the puck from zone to zone or attempting a risky pass. The good thing is that these are skills that can be learned and improved on. Silayev, come next year, could be a completely different player.
It is this variability in his future outcome that made Silayev a risky pick in the top 10 and a difficult player to rank in this draft class. Your opinion of him relies heavily on how much you think he can add to his frame and skill set.
Silayev has the work ethic and drive to overcome some of his current shortcomings. While he will most likely not become a 60+ point scorer in the NHL, the Devils do not need that. They need someone who will effectively defend the ice and transition the team forward. Silayev, with patience and time, will become that player.
Silayev's player type is also of intrigue. There is simply a scarcity of players in this ilk. Silayev is rare in that he is 1) huge but also 2) mobile. He should be a perfect foil to the more offensive-leaning players the Devils already possess, like Luke Hughes or Seamus Casey. In fact, a Silayev-Casey paring may be the perfect compliment.
All in all, I am a fan of the selection. While the Devils may have left some skill on the table, to be able to acquire this type of prospect is truly a rare occasion. It will be exciting to see how Silayev's game progresses in the KHL in the coming years.