3 Devils Who Can Push for a 2026-27 Roster Spot

After a long summer without hockey, it’s finally time for the New Jersey Devils to return to Prudential Center. Rookies will report to training camp this Friday, with many fighting for the chance to earn a roster spot. New and old faces alike will hit the ice as the club amps up to take a major step forward this season. Among expected participants is Alexander Command, who was selected 12th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Now that the Devils’ depth is at an all-time high, making the final cut certainly won’t be easy, but there are plenty up for the challenge. Here are three players who can make a push for a roster spot in 2026-27.

Lenni Hameenaho

The first player on my list is Lenni Hameenaho, who showed a taste of what he’s capable of last season. He appeared in 33 games for the Devils, where he tallied two goals and six assists. Likewise, he spent a significant portion of 2025-26 in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets, where he put up 26 points in 37 games.

His primary position was on the fourth line, and he was recalled from the AHL at various points during the second half of last season. Hameenaho made his debut on Jan. 19, and his first NHL goal came shortly after on Jan. 23 against the Vancouver Canucks. In total, he averaged 12:11 ice time and 1.42 shots on goal per game.

Drafted 58th overall by the Devils in 2023, he is poised to have more responsibility this season. A large part of his success has come from his progression within the organization’s pipeline, which is something that head coach Sheldon Keefe has praised in the past. “Lenni’s development and the patience that we’ve shown to allow him to find his game there and to come up when he’s ready has really served us well here in the early going.”

What should excite fans the most are his promising metrics. All of Hameenaho’s eight points came during 5-on-5 scenarios, and he found immediate chemistry alongside Arseny Gritsyuk and Cody Glass. Across 15 games, this line contributed seven goals, 145 shot attempts, and 53 scoring chances. It should come as no surprise if this combination makes a reappearance this season — especially since the Devils will be making changes throughout the rest of their lineup. If he has a strong performance at training camp, there’s a good chance that Hameenaho can earn a full-time NHL role.

Anton Silayev

Another big question looming on the horizon is whether or not Anton Silayev is ready to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old is gearing up for his first season in North America, but his performance with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod indicates that he may join the Devils sooner rather than later. 

He was named an All-Star in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season for his physicality and mobility, recording 124 hits and 74 blocked shots. Silayev signed a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) in June and remains one of the club’s top prospects as an up-and-coming shutdown defenseman.

Silayev has already proven that he has what it takes to be an NHL defenseman, and he’s eager to reach the next level, according to head scout Mark Dennehy. “The expectation is that he comes to training camp and he’s going to try to take an NHL job…I just feel like he’s ready for that next challenge, which is the biggest one that any prospect makes,” said Dennehy.

However, the reality is that the Devils’ left side is already crowded with Luke Hughes, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Brenden Dillon. In order to see significant ice time, Silayev would have to outperform a number of veterans at training camp. He could potentially earn a spot as an extra defenseman, but there’s still a chance he’ll begin the season with the Comets. If that’s the case, he should be a prime candidate to call up in the event of injury.

Declan Chisholm

My final candidate who could snag a roster spot is Declan Chisholm, whom the team acquired from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. He played in just 26 NHL games last season, but general manager (GM) Sunny Mehta has made his belief in the 26-year-old defenseman extremely clear.

In a recent interview, he shared that Chisholm is a player he’s had an affinity for for years, dating back to his time with the Florida Panthers. “He’s mobile, he’s a great skater, he’s got hockey sense…He’s got an element to him that’s really dynamic,” said Mehta. His instincts and statistical models have already reaped major benefits for the Devils. Mehta advocated for New Jersey to draft Jesper Bratt when he served as director of hockey analytics in 2016 — and it goes without saying how well that decision went for the franchise.

But where does Chisholm fit into the overall picture? The likeliest scenario is that he becomes the Devils’ seventh defenseman. Their blue line has already undergone a few changes, especially now that Simon Nemec was traded. Chisholm has the chance to provide additional depth.

He has one year left on his current contract and will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of this season. The catch is that he’s no longer waiver-exempt, which means he could be claimed by another NHL team if the Devils attempt to send him down to the Comets. All things considered, he should be another player to keep an eye on when training camp rolls around.