Written By Neil Villapiano
The New Jersey Devils have a team that's built to compete for a Stanley Cup right now. They also still have one of the deepest and most talented prospects pools in the NHL as well. They were recently ranked the #4 best prospect pipeline in the NHL by the Athletic. The Devils have a stout development program with still a handful of guys on the verge of graduating. Let's take a look at the top five prospects in New Jersey's pool that are either ready or close to being ready to make an impact in the NHL.
1. Luke Hughes (LD, 19, 6'2", 184 lb.)
Luke Hughes is in a unique position because not only does he have some NHL regular season experience but also has some Stanley Cup playoff experience as well. In just a short time, the young defenseman made an immediate impact. In two regular season games, Hughes potted his first two career points, his first career goal, and first career game-winning overtime goal. He capped it off by adding two assists in three playoff games. He is the most talented and NHL-ready prospect in the Devils system at this moment.
2. Šimon Nemec (RD, 19, 6'1", 190 lb.)
Since being drafted #2 overall in the 2022 NHL draft, Šimon Nemec has taken great strides in playing in North America. He has been able to get beyond any challenge he has had to face since coming from overseas. Playing for the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, Nemec finished his rookie campaign competing in 65 games, adding 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points. He was also selected for the AHL's inaugural top prospect team. He also showed a ton of flash and skill at the World Junior Championships.
Captaining his country of Slovakia, Nemec tallied one goal and five points in five games. Despite Slovakia not ending up with a medal, the right-shooting defenseman showed his NHL-caliber skill. His lone goal in particular was a thing of beauty. He has all the tools to be a number one defenseman possesses both an offensive burst, and is very reliable on his end. Time will tell when Nemec will make his NHL debut, but once he does he will surely take the NHL by storm.
3. Alexander Holtz (RW, 21, 6'0", 194 lb.)
It's easy to forget about Alexander Holtz for a few reasons. The first is that he has yet to crack the Devil's lineup. The other is that now that the top six is loaded with scoring talent, it seems less likely that he can be a part of this organization long-term. However, we have to remember that Holtz is still only 21 years of age and has yet to be given a true chance to become an everyday NHL player. Yes, he got some chances early last season and wasn't consistent enough, but he also was benched for way too long and should've been sent back down to Utica to keep developing. General manager Tom Fitzgerald even admitted in an interview that he feels personally responsible for stunting the growth of the young winger.
All of that being said, this is a make-or-break season for Holtz. He not only needs to find consistency in his game, but he must find a role on this team and do it well. The Stockholm, Sweden native still possesses a lethal shot and has the making to being a dominant goal scorer when everything is in the right place. It's still too early to give up on Holtz, but this upcoming training camp will be a career-defying one for him.
4. Nolan Foote (LW, 22, 6'3", 201 lb.)
Nolan Foote is another still young prospect who will be vying for an opening night roster spot this year. He has the physicality and size to make him an intriguing player for New Jersey. Fitzgerald has praised the 22-year-old a ton in the past for his work ethic and skill set. He has been able to achieve some success in little NHL play, but his development has shown a ton down in Utica. He improved his goal total from 14 in 21-22 to 20 in 22-23.
Foote is the product of how good the Devil's development team has been and why the prospect pool is still one of the best in the league. When compared to someone like Holtz who will also be competing for one of the few roster spots, Foote appears to have more to offer than just offense. Since there will most likely be a spot on the bottom six available, it seems more likely that Foote would fit that role better than Holtz. We shall have to wait and see what happens at camp, but it wouldn't surprise me if this is the year Foote becomes a full-time NHL player.
5. Arseni Gritsyuk (LW/RW, 22, 5'11", 192 lb.)
Arseni Gritsyuk, in my opinion, is the Devil's diamond in the rough. He has very similar tools to that of his fellow countryman Kirill Kaprizov. Gritsyuk has speed, can put up points consistently, and is a key factor in his team's success. Although he has yet to transition over to North America, there shouldn't be any worry yet. According to Gritsyuk's agent, the plan is for his client to come to New Jersey and immediately play in the NHL.
"I think after two years he’s going to be ready, and I think there’s going to be a couple of spots maybe in New Jersey,” Babaev said. “At this time, I didn’t see anything that could work for him… I signed him for two years. After two years, he’ll come (to New Jersey).”
Arseni Gritsyuks’ agent Shumi Babaev (from ‘When will ‘strong’ Devils prospect Arseni Gritsyuk leave KHL for North America?’, NJ.com June 14, 2023)
Again, the Devils are going to play the long game with Gritsyuk and that is completely fine. Especially when you look at the team right now and the other prospects still developing as well. Make no mistake about it, this young kid has the makings to be an extremely talented NHL player once he arrives in the Garden State. He is already succeeding in the KHL, the second-best hockey league in the world and his game will have matured a ton by the time he is in North America. He is truly someone to keep your eye on moving forward.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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These guys all bring something special to the table and having 2 Hughes brothers is great!