Devils News & Rumors: Silayev’s Upcoming North American Debut, Brodeur’s Faith in Daws, and More

Throughout the offseason, the New Jersey Devils have certainly made the most of their situation. Under the guidance of new general manager (GM) Sunny Mehta, they’ve addressed areas of weakness and inconsistency. In just a few short months, the team has added depth scorers, a top-six wing, and even another veteran goaltender. On paper, it seems like the club has all the right components to make a deeper run than their last few playoff appearances.

This installment of news and rumors features Anton Silayev’s upcoming North American debut, Martin Brodeur’s faith in Nico Daws, and the organization’s interest in Alexander Smolin over the summer.

Anton Silayev’s Long-Awaited Debut

The Devils have plenty of talented young prospects, including Seamus Casey, Lenni Hameenaho, Mikhail Yegorov, and recently drafted Alexander Command. However, the most promising player within their pipeline is Silayev, who has spent the last three seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). 

He has the potential to become an elite shutdown defenseman, with a unique combination of size and mobility. Last season, his point production stalled at times, but he made up for it with two assists in the playoffs for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He was even named a KHL All-Star for 2025-26.

Anton Silayev on the Devils' opening night roster? "The expectation is that he comes to training camp and he's going to try to take an NHL job," Devils chief scout of amateur scouting Mark Dennehy said. #NJDevils https://t.co/LnB81CJIgy

— Anthony Corona (@ACoronaNJD) August 17, 2026

Ever since he was selected 10th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Devils fans have been anxiously awaiting his arrival in North America. Last month, he signed a three-year entry-level contract, which has a $1.075 million cap hit. Silayev is expected to join the team at training camp next month, with the expectation of either making the Devils’ roster or beginning the season with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Mark Dennehy, head scout for the Devils, had nothing but good things to say about the young blueliner’s development. “You want to bring someone over, especially from Russia, when they have a chance to play at the highest level…He’s ready for that next challenge, which is the biggest one that any prospect makes,” said Dennehy.

Brodeur Believes Daws Can Be a Starting Goalie

One of the most intriguing things about the Devils this season will be their goaltending situation. After trading Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, the organization re-signed Daws to a two-year extension, then added David Rittich a few days later. As of right now, it looks like the roster will feature a three-goalie rotation of Daws, Rittich, and Jake Allen for 2026-27.

However, Brodeur believes that Daws has what it takes to become their starting netminder. The 25-year-old has only appeared in 55 NHL games throughout his career, making just three appearances with the Devils last season. His performance sample size has been small, but the numbers indicate a bright future. For example, he led the team to a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild last October and recorded a .939 save percentage (SV%) for 2024-25.

In a recent interview with The Hockey News, the three-time Stanley Cup champion stressed the importance of giving Daws an opportunity to shine. “You put a lot of stock in drafting goalies, but if you never give them a chance it’s kind of hard to know what you have…So now he’s going to have a chance to show us if he’s a real NHL goalie and I believe he is,” said Brodeur.

All that’s left to do now is wait and see which goaltender will get the nod on opening night.

Devils Showed Interest in Alexander Smolin

Speaking of goalies, our final piece of news involves a recent report indicating that the Devils looked overseas before finalizing their current goaltending trio. In an interview with Sport-Express, Smolin revealed that the Devils showed interest in him following a strong season with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where he posted a 23-8-2 record.

Over the summer, Brodeur got in touch with him, but Smolin politely declined any attempt at negotiations, stating that he wanted to continue his career in the KHL. The biggest factor in his decision came down to preparation. “You need to rely on your feelings: how you feel, whether you’re ready for the NHL or not. There’s no point in just going in without a clear head,” said Smolin.

Earlier in the offseason, he attended the New York Rangers’ development camp, describing it as a helpful and enlightening experience. Nonetheless, he made it clear that he wanted to be mentally and physically ready before taking any steps toward a possible future in the NHL. But should he change his mind about making the transition to playing in North America full-time, the Devils will likely keep him in mind.

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