The New Jersey Devils made a questionable pick on day one of the NHL Draft. Alexander Command could be a really good player with an insane motor, or he could be Dawson Mercer reincarnate. Either way, the Devils got an NHL player at a position (center) that they desperately need reinforcements.
In the second round, they went after another center in Matias Vanhanen with their second pick of the draft. The Devils had one of the weakest center prospect pools in the league. They aren’t exactly the leaders yet, but along with the addition of Lavr Gashilov, they are in a much better position.
However, the most intriguing pick might be their other second-round pick. The Devils took hulking defenseman Nikita Shcherbakov with the 44th-overall pick.
Shcherbakov is massive, standing at 6’5” and 187 lbs. He has a lot of growth potential in his body, and he has the type of frame that welcomes it. He should reach 200 lbs. with a little help this season.
Not only is he huge, but he’s a smooth skater who impressed a lot of scouts. He split last season between the KHL, VHL, and MHL. He should spend more time in the KHL next season with Salavat Ufa.
The New Jersey Devils drafted a natural replacement for Anton Silayev
If this all sounds very familiar, it’s because this sounds a whole helluva lot like Anton Silayev’s journey to the New Jersey Devils. The former 10th-overall pick signed with the Devils this offseason and is expected to compete for a job in the preseason. He’s a long shot since the Devils, even after trading Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames, have six solid NHL defensemen on the roster. Silayev likely needs a year in the AHL, anyway.
However, there’s still a chance that this never happens. The Devils have been in high-leverage discussions for multiple superstar players. To get said players, Sunny Mehta has to offer a very good package. Despite the deal that got Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, it’s unlikely the Devils can get Jason Robertson for simply draft picks.
Silayev is a huge player in more ways than one. He lost a little luster last season after playing for a coach who just didn’t like his game, but that shouldn’t impact his overall value. He’s still a former top-10 pick who has incredible size and smooth skating. Which is exactly how we described Shcherbakov.
Mehta didn’t draft Silayev. And while he did sign him, this is a business in his mind, and trading him is just part of the business of hockey. If he did draft a player because he fit the role that Silayev will eventually play, then that’s a huge win. If they want to take multiple shots with hulking defensemen who can skate well, we suppose there’s nothing wrong with that, either.
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