It is now time to reveal the the results of the 2024 All About the Jersey Top 25 New Jersey Devils players Under 25 list as decided by the writers and the community. As is tradition, this begins with the Outsiders, the 15 players who did not make the Top 25 this year.
You know the Summer is winding down and the New Jersey Devils offseason is coming up with our annual Top 25 New Jersey Devils Under 25 list. Earlier this month, James asked you to vote in our poll asking you to rank all players in the organization under the age of 25. The staff was asked this question. I am pleased to reveal the results of this year’s Top 25 Devils Under 25 list.
As ever, this question is intentionally open-ended. Do you prefer potential over tangible results? Do you tier the players based on where they have played and where they will play in the coming season? Do you rank certain positions and roles over others? Do you do something else entirely? There is no one true way to answer this question. There is wisdom in the crowds as the collective thought about the young players in the system tends to line up with realistic expectations.
Also, as ever, the final results that James and I will be revealing are based on a weighted average of these ranks. 1 is first, 2 is second, and so forth. The poll included all players in the organization that either had their rights held or were signed and were under the age of 25 by September 15, 2024. The community poll results count as much as a single writer on staff. The community poll results also act as a tiebreaker, which there were a few this year.
As you can see by the total amount of players to select, the Devils are not as young as they once were. They only have 40 players under the age of 25 in the system. James’ post in the poll covered the shift for this year. Six were traded from last year’s list, three aged out, five saw their rights expire without a contract, and one was not qualified. While the Devils re-stocked the pool a bit with seven drafted players and bringing four more players into the fold with contracts, it is more quantity than quality. That only 136 people voted in this year’s poll also speaks to the lack of excitement. Such is the fate of a win-now team.
This post is for all of the players who did not make the Top 25 this year. This does not mean that the players in this poll cannot rise up the rankings in the future. Or that the players will not become anybody of value in New Jersey. Or that the player is a bust and should be ignored. All this means is that in our collective perception of the team’s young players, they did not measure up for this year. This can change and should change as the facts on the ice change. That all said, let us go over in reverse order the Outsiders – 40th through 26th – of this year’s All About the Jersey Top 25 New Jersey Devils Under 25 List. As always, feel free to agree or disagree with the rankings and rationales in the comments.
The Outsiders
#40 – Max Graham – Center/Left Wing – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Kelowna? (WHL) – 2023 Rank: Not Ranked (NR) – Elite Prospects (EP) Profile
Starting things off is a new man at the bottom of the list: 2024 fifth round selection Max Graham. Graham is large at 6’3” and 203 pounds. With 43, 65, and 135 PIM in each of his last three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets, Graham is apparently tough. Does he score? Not as much as you would expect someone with designs on a pro career. He put up 10 goals and 33 points in his first full season with Kelowna, 13 goals and 21 points in his second, and 20 goals and 42 points in his third season. Graham did have a strong playoff with four goals and eight points in 11 games in 2024 and his 12 PIM shows he can behave when the games matter. But the main reason why he was drafted was because he is large and tough. And while some will say that matters, Graham was ranked 40th in three voting lists and 39th by the community. So it does not matter much compared with others. I think he ends up with Kelowna or another WHL for next season as I think he can do an overage year (he turned 20 in May). This may change if/when he gets a pro contract in coming weeks.
#39 – Cole Brown – Right Wing – Age: 19 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Brantford (OHL) – 2023 Rank: 34 – EP Profile
Cole Brown fell five spots to take the next-to-bottom spot on this year’s list. Not that expectations for the sixth round selection in 2023 were high, but one would hope he would build on his draft year in 2023-24. When he was picked, the right winger put up 17 goals and 42 points with three points in six playoff games. In 2023-24, he put up just less than that. Only 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games – which is five more than he played in 2022-23. In the playoffs, he put up one assist in six games. This not what you would like to see in a Draft Year+1 season. Especially in a league where 19 and 20 year olds tend to prevail. The ranking reflects that. He will need to show much more in 2024-25 with Brantford if he wants to get signed by next June.
#38 – Viktor Hurtig – Right-shooting Defenseman – Age: 22 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Michigan Tech (CCHA – NCAA) – 2023 Rank: 39 – EP Profile
Viktor Hurtig had a rough season with the Michigan State Spartans. He played in nine (9) games. I am not sure if he was actually hurt. From what I could find out, he played in eight games through November, got one game in December, and then nothing. Not one appearance. Not one minute. Not even in the Big Ten tournament or the Frozen Four tourney. He hit the transfer portal in April and decided to go with Michigan Tech in the CCHA. Which is an odd choice since that team is bringing back a lot of defensemen for next season. From the standpoint of the Devils fan, Hurtig needs to A) play somewhere, B) play a lot, and C) show something with those minutes. Hurtig is a big, defensive-minded defenseman and so it is hard to “pop” for a list like this. But A and B are more important for himself in the organization.
#37 – Nathan Légaré – Right Wing – Age: 23 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Utica (AHL) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
Légaré was a third-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2019. The Devils acquired him in 2024 in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau, whom was acquired for Tyce Thompson. What have Devils fans have been missing in the interim? An AHL winger. Since going pro in the 2021-22 season, Légaré has remained in the AHL. He was with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for two season. He ended up in Laval after that three-team trade that brought Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Durandeau deal, he finished last season with Utica. All this time, Légaré has never topped 20 points in an AHL season. Unless he has an amazing time with the Comets this season, this depth AHL winger will remain as one. And so he is ranked accordingly.
#36 – Artem Barabosha – Right-shooting Defenseman – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Team: CSKA Moscow (KHL) – 2023 Rank: 41 – EP Profile
Barabosha has not only moved up in this list but also in his career. After spending all of 2022-23 in the MHL, Barabosha made his KHL debut with CSKA Moscow. In fact, he made 21 appearances for them. He was also limited to just 10:44 of ice time per game and contributed four points and 13 shots in those 21 games. Barabosha was at least not kept on the bench watching Yaroslav Dyblenko and Frederik Claesson. He suited up for 23 games for Zvezda Moscow in the VHL, which is a minor league of the KHL. While he was not more productive, he got to at least play a bit more with an average ice time of 13:53. An ice time that saw a big bump up to 16:42 in five playoff games. Barabosha is signed through 2026-27 so if he is ever coming over, it will be some time. Which is fine as he still needs to establish himself. However, that will understandably impact how the People Who Matter see and think of him.
#35 – Veeti Louhivaara – Goaltender – Age: 18 – Likely 2024-25 Team: JYP (Liiga) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
The first 18-year old on this year’s list is Jyväskylä-born goaltender Veeti Louhivaara. He was the other fifth round selection from the 2024 NHL Draft and the general thinking for him is: sure, maybe, why not? Louhivaara is a big goaltender at 6’4” and 207 pounds. Louhivaara did get one brief look with JYP (Jyväskylä’s local team) in his draft year to go with 21 games at the U-20 level. While his 89% save percentage at the U-20 level and his international play in July may not be encouraging on its own, he is a goaltender and has quite a long time to go to develop. Which he has the room for as he is signed with JYP through 2025-26 with an option year. Should he break through into Liiga and/or represent Finland at the next youth level – maybe the World Junior Championships – then he will move up this list in time.
#34 – Charlie Leddy – Right-shooting Defenseman – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Quinnipiac University (ECAC – NCAA) – 2023 Rank: 35 – EP Profile
Charlie Leddy was right-shooting defenseman who did not produce much offense but is mow known for his defensive play in college. He also played for one of college hockey’s traditional powers in Boston College. After 39 games and 8 assists last season he is done with the Eagles. Leddy hit the transfer portal in April, possibly to look for more time and a bigger role. At the least, he picked another hockey power as he will join Quinnipiac University for next season. As in 2023 National Champion Quinnipiac University. The Bobcats are hoping Leddy helps their defense as they push for another Frozen Four appearance. Should he do so, his stock may rise a bit. Again, it is hard for a defenseman of Leddy’s type to garner the attention that would lead to a higher ranking on this list.
#33 – Chase Cheslock – Right-shooting Defenseman – Age: 22 – Likely 2024-25 Team: University of St. Thomas (CCHA – NCAA) – 2023 Rank: 36 – EP Profile
Chase Cheslock spent this past season split between the Omaha Lancers of the USHL and the University of St. Thomas. In the first three months, Cheslock suffered an injury and so he captained an otherwise terrible Lancers team for just 15 games. Two goals and eight points in 15 games is pretty good for a defenseman, but not amazing. Instead of spending the whole season in the USHL, he officially joined the Tommies after his enrollment at the start of 2024 and two games against Vermont. The jump from junior hockey to college hockey can be big and Cheslock took on quite a bit in 19 appearances. He ended his freshman season with his first goal but he only contributed two assists and 26 other shots. At least he stayed disciplined with three minor penalties. Cheslock will get the chance to grow with the Tommies. It will be a plus that he can play for just one team in 2024-25. Should he develop, he will rise on this list too.
#32 – Mikaël Diotte – Right-shooting Defenseman – Age: 21 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Utica (AHL) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
Mikaël Diotte signed an entry level contract with New Jersey back in March. Diotte was finishing up his fourth and final full season of major junior hockey with Drummondville of the QMJHL. The overage defenseman did set career highs with 12 goals and 42 points in 59 games. He did carry that production into the playoffs, where he put up three goals and ten points in 19 games – far more than the one point over his last three playoffs combined. He is big (of course, he is 6’3” and over 200 pounds), he has been scouted by others (he was invited to camp by Carolina and Colorado), and he fills a spot on Utica’s blueline. Time will tell if he is the next Jeremy Groleau or someone to rise up the depth chart.
#31 – Petr Hauser – Right Wing – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Team: HC Plzeň (Czechia) – 2023 Rank: 26 – EP Profile
Petr Hauser has emerged from the U-20 level and set himself up for a pro career in Czechia at a minimum. Last season, he spent just 11 games with the HC Sparta Praha U-20 team. 11 goals and 25 points showed that he was more than good enough at that level. The four goals and 13 points in 7 playoff games further confirmed it. Hauser mostly played last season with the main Sparta Praha squad in the Czech Extraliga. That was tougher as indicated by his 7 assists and 0 goals in 30 games where he averaged 8:40 ice time per game. However, Hauser was loaned to a second tier team in Czechia – HC Stadion Litomerice – and he was quite productive with five goals and nine points in 14 games. A sign that he was ready for pro hockey but maybe not at the Extraliga level right away. Sparta Praha may be thinking he could be real soon. They loaned him to HC Plzeň in the Extraliga for 2024-25. We’ll see how that goes – especially since Hauser’s contract ends after this season.
#30 – Dylan Wendt – Right Wing – Age: 23 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Utica (AHL) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
Dylan Wendt followed a very productive junior year at Western Michigan University with an entry level contract with the Devils. Wendt went undrafted but finished up his USHL career by captaining Muskegon in the 2020-21 season. His freshman season with the Broncos was rough given his three points in 34 games. But Wendt grew like wildfire in the following two seasons. He put up eight goals and 22 points as a sophomore. His junior season saw him put up 23 goals and 44 points, second only to Luke Grainger in points (48) and Sam Colangelo in goals (24). Rather than have him go back for his senior year and attract more attention from NHL teams, the Devils pushed to sign him – and he did. He even appeared in five games for Utica already, contributing a goal and an assist. Wendt may be a Brian Halonen-type; an UDFA who can play a significant role at least for the minor league team. As such, he ends up as an outsider, but more regarded than most of them.
#29 – Matyas Melovsky – Center/Right Wing – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Team: Baie-Comeau? (QMJHL) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
I personally liked the Matyas Melovsky pick. A lot of the People Who Matter who voted liked the pick. Accordingly, he debuts within five spots of the Top 25. And why not? The overage forward made the jump to major junior hockey from Czechia for the 2022-23 season and was a top scorer on a bad Baie-Comeau team. He finished fourth in scoring last season on an improved roster and, most notably, lit up the scoresheet at the 2024 World Junior Championships with a goal and ten assists for the Bronze-medal winning Czechia team. He makes plays, he has shown he is adaptable by already being in North America, and the Devils and Comets can certainly use centers in their respective systems. I am a bit surprised that he has yet to be signed to a pro contract. I am not sure he can go back to the QMJHL; hence, the question mark for that 2024-25 team. I would like to see how he performs in camp as he could get a deal to at least start in Utica.
#28 – Herman Träff – Left Wing/Right Wing – Age: 18 – Likely 2024-25 Team: HV 71 (SHL) – 2023 Rank: NR – EP Profile
The Devils picked Träff as their second third round pick. He fit the theme of the Devils’ draft class by being quite large at 6’3” and 216 pounds already at age 18. He also has positive signs for the future. In his draft year, he was a force with HV 71’s U-20 team with 13 goals, 21 points, and 73 PIM in 26 games. Träff got to play with the main HV 71 team with 10 appearances. While he did not do much, that the organization gave the 18-year old a chance speaks to how they see his future. They also did not let him just stay with the youth team. They loaned him to Västerås IK in the Allsvenskan for eight games and he at least got on the board with a goal and two assists in eight games. The future is that Träff can be a quick and strong winger. With a contract running through 2025-26 with HV 71, he will have the time to do so. Best of luck for him to make Sweden’s WJC roster. He has a real shot at it given that he was named to their 5-Nations roster for a tourney later this month.
#27 – Tyler Brennan – Goaltender – Age: 20 – Likely 2024-25 Teams: Utica (AHL), Adirondack (ECHL) – 2023 Rank: 22 – EP Profile
Tyler Brennan is the only player to fall off last year’s Top 25 Devils Under 25 list into the Outsiders section for this year. Brennan was the top ranked goaltender in his draft year by NHL Central Scouting Services. He did not put up amazing numbers with Prince George of the WHL in 2022-23 with an 89.8% save percentage in 37 games and an 88.2% in playoff games. Still, he is a goalie and one with potential. However, he went pro last season and struggled to get action. He ended up in Adirondack to get minutes. Not the worst plan for a goalie. Still, 13 games with an 89.6% save percentage is not encouraging for the future. Especially since the Devils opted to sign Isaac Poulter to add to the goaltending pool. Brennan is still quite young but he is effectively the fifth goaltender on the depth chart right now. From that perspective, I can understand how he fell out of the Top 25. What he does in 2024-25 may determine if he moves up to fourth (or higher?) any time soon.
#26 – Daniil Karpovich – Left-shooting Defenseman – Age: 19 – Likely 2024-25 Teams: Gornyak-UGMK (VHL), Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL) – 2023 Rank: 31 – EP Profile
Daniil Karpovich just missed out of the Top 25 in 2024. After a successful season with Avto Yekaterinburg in the MHL in 2022-23 season, Karpovish signed with Neman Grodno in the Belarussian league. While not the toughest league, it is a pro league. And he hung with them for 49 games in their season and six playoff games. He put up two goals and 11 points in the season with a playoff assist from a production perspective. More importantly, he did well enough to warrant Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg to bring him back for the 2024-25 season with a two-way contract. Elite Prospects lists their VHL team as his next stop, but the transfer and the contract is with the KHL team. His play and the state of the roster will determine if he gets to play with the main team at all. Karpovich is still quite young, has plenty of potential as a two-way defenseman, and he is a left-shooting defenseman in a pool full of right-shooting defenseman. I would not be supremely shocked if New Jersey tries to sign him after next season. Especially if he develops further in Russian pro hockey. I think the community and staff would agree. Karpovich did not miss the Top 25 by very much.
The Rankings
In the interest of disclosure, here is how everyone ranked the players who are in this post. Consistent with past polls, the Community is a compilation of all 136 responses by the People Who Matter. Those results along with the writer’s results were put through a weighted average for the rank on this year’s list.
The AAtJ Writers & The People Who Matter
With so many names from last year’s list being removed, there was a lot of wiggle room between some of the outsiders and the Top 25 lists for the various lists used in the weighted average. The Community poll collectively put Tyler Brennan in their Top 25 as did Jackson and Alex. I know I had Hauser, Wendt, and Karpovich much higher on the strength of their respective 2023-24 seasons. Chris is big on Karpovish, Cheslock, and Melovsky. Jared was similar about Wendt but opted to put Träff in his top 25, whereas James only had Wendt in his Top 25 that ended up outside of it. Are any of these really wrong? No. Again, there have been Outsiders who have risen up the ranks over time. As well as Outsiders who have ended up making the NHL at some point. This is all of our perceptions based on what we know and what we think matters.
Incidentally, there were two ties among the weighted averages. As with the past, I used the Community’s collective ranking to break the tie. Diotte and Cheslock were even for #32 on the list. The Community was not that close between the two so Diotte gor the edge. Träff and Melovsky were also tied for #28. The Community had those two just one spot apart so Träff for the edge. I do not anticipate a ton of debate over who is truly the 32nd or 28th under-25 player in the Devils system. But if you feel those four are closer to each other or would order them differently, then there may be some merit to that based on these rankings. The difference is not that much.
Which leads to the final point I want to make about the rankings. Karpovich was quite close to taking the #25 spot – and the #24 spot. Those three ended up being within a one of each other in weighted average. So if you feel whomever is at #24 and #25 should be swapped with Karpovich, then it is understandable. Who those players are, you will find out tomorrow when James reveals the beginning of this year’s Top 25 list. As is tradition, we will reveal them in reverse order and at five players at a time.
Your Take
Thank you for reading through the rankings of the 15 players who did not make the Top 25 Devils Under 25 this year. Once more, this ranking does not mean that the player is doomed to obscurity or is a bust or is not worth thinking about. It just means they have time to spend and work to do to increase their perception to the People Who Matter. Thanks to James, Jared, Alex, Jackson, Chris, and the People Who Matter who voted in the Community survey. Special thanks to James for making this year’s list possible and for tracking the prospects year-round for the site.
Ahead of the next post in this year’s rankings, I would like you, the People Who Matter, to discuss the rankings and the 15 outsiders in this year’s list. Again, this is all an exercise in perception. Please be kind when discussing other people’s rankings. It is perfectly fine for people have differences of opinions about prospects. That said, please feel free to share your thoughts about any these 15 players, where they were ranked in the comments, and what you think they will do next season. Who was rated too high in your opinion and why? Who was rated too low in your view and why? Who on this list do you think will (or should) make the Top 25 next year? Thank you again for reading.