The New Jersey Devils entered the 2024 NHL Draft with a clear mandate: add size, stability, and long‑term upside to a blue line that has struggled to find its identity. With the selection of towering Russian defenseman Anton Silayev in the first round, they signalled not only a commitment to reshaping their defensive core but also a willingness to bet on one of the most intriguing prospects in recent memory.
At 6-foot‑7 with elite mobility and a shutdown mentality well beyond his years, Silayev arrives as a rare blend of physical dominance and modern defensive instincts. His reach, skating, and poise under pressure give him the tools to become a franchise anchor, while his experience in the KHL has already tested him against seasoned professionals.
It’s looking like his time in Russia could be nearing an end, as the Devils are interested in starting the process of signing him to an entry-level contract when his KHL season is over and bringing him over to North America. David Pagnotta on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.
“But the plan is for him to sign his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, and then come on over to our side of the pond. Now, not easy. It’s not an easy process. There are a lot of hoops and all that to go through the visa process in order to come over. It’s going to take a little bit of time. So depending on how long their season goes, that’ll dictate how long this visa process is going to kind of play out.
Now my understanding is the goal for the Devils, for the player in his camp, is to be on this side of the pond in time for development camp at the end of June, after the NHL draft. End of June, early July. So that’s kind of the target, to bring him over, sign, go through that, those steps in order to come over to North America and then be part of Devs, the Devil’s dev camp, excuse me, once, once the draft passes.”
Silayev was drafted 10th overall in the first round of the 2024 draft. Don’t expect much offense out of Silayev with just 6 goals and 20 assists in 187 KHL games with Torpedo Nizhny Norgorod over the past three seasons.
