The New Jersey Devils did not own a pick on the first day of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, however, they were very busy on day two of the event, making seven selections. The team seemingly focussed on offense, United States-born specifically, throughout their selections. Learn about each of the newest Devils and see how general Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils did with their sections below.
No. 50: Conrad Fondrk, C (second round)
The Devils’ first pick of the draft came 50th overall in the second round. The team used the selection on American center Conrad Fondrk. Fondrk, an 18-year-old listed a six-foot and 203 pounds, spent last season in the US National Team Development Program (NTDP).
The St. Paul, Minnesota native posted 13 goals and 14 assists in 40 NTDP games and had 12 points in 15 USHL games. Fondrk’s season was cut short due to a broken leg suffered in March. He is due to play college hockey at Boston University.
Fondrk is described as someone who will be able to develop a 200-foot game. He is also praised for his skating ability and shot. It is said he still needs to do some work on gaining more consistency and some add some more muscle and physicality to his game.
The Sound of Hockey‘s consensus draft board had Fondrk ranked 62nd. Several hinted that if it wasn’t for the broken leg, the skillful two-way forward would have been ranked higher.
Grade: B
No. 63: Benjamin Kevan, F (second round)
New Jersey spent their second pick of the draft on a California-born winger Benjamin Kevan. Kevan played mainly in the USHL in 2024-25, posting 43 points (30 assists) in 51 games. The 30 assists ranked 23rd in the league among 545 players who played a game in the USHL. Across two seasons in the USHL, he has 100 points in 110 games. He is due to play college hockey at Arizona State University.
Listed a 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds, Kevan has some work to do physically, however, he is already a terrific skill-based winger. Kevan is praised for his extremely strong skating ability, passing prowess, and stickhandeling. He has all the makings of an extremely dynamic offensive playmaker. As alluded to though, he does have some work to do in getting toward NHL-ready size and defensive ability.
The Sound of Hockey‘s consensus draft board had Kevan ranked 49th. Appears the Devils got great value selecting the dynamic winger 63rd overall.
Grade: A-
No. 90: Mason Moe, F (third round)
In the third round, the Devils kept their theme of skillful US-based prospects in drafting forward Mason Moe 90th overall. Moe, 18 years old, played in 51 USHL games this past season, posting 43 points. He made a brief appearance with the United States National Under-18 team, scoring three goals in six games.
The 6-foot-1, 185 pounder has played both the center and winger positions. Like the two selected in front of him, Moe is another skill-based player that projects to be a strong playmaker and chance generator. According to Neutral Zone, he was one of the best in the USHL at generating high-quality scoring chances (1.89). Moe is said to need a lot of work on the face-off dot, owning one of the worst efficiencies in the league, and still needs to refine his defensive game.
The Sound of Hockey‘s consensus draft board had Moe ranked 87th.
Grade: B-
No. 99: Trenten Bennett, G (fourth round)
With New Jersey’s first of two fourth-round picks, the Devils made their annual goaltender selection, taking Trenten Bennett. Bennett spent most of his season in the CCHL (Central Canada Hockey League), posting a 0.912 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average across 31 games. That save percentage ranked sixth-best in the league among 24 qualified goaltenders. Bennett also played six OHL games, posting a 0.923 save percentage.
Bennett is a massive 6-foot-8 and is already 19 years old. One report said he moves much better in between the pipes than his size would indicate. He is committed to St. Lawerence University to play college hockey.
The Hockey Writers ranked Bennett at No. 99, however, most other draft boards had him unranked. Seems like the first pick in the draft that could be regarded as a reach, however, goalies rankings can always be all over the place, especially for an older player.
Grade: C-
No. 114: Gustav Hillstrom, C (fourth round)
Unlike the team’s first three forward picks, the Devils used their second fourth-round pick on a foreign-borne player. Center Gustav Hillstrom is Swedish, and spent a majority of his 2024-25 season in the under-20 Swedish junior league. Across 43 games, he had 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists). The 38 points ranked 42nd among 729 players to play a game last season. Hillstrom also got an 18 game run in the SHL (top professional league in Sweden), posting a goal and an assist.
The 6-foot-2 center is described as an extremely polished two-way player with a higher motor. He is said to have an already developed defensive game, but can also get it done offensively, as a passer, thanks to his high hockey IQ. If there is an area he needs to improve, it’s his pure goal-scoring ability on offense.
The Sound of Hockey‘s consensus draft board had Hillstrom ranked 91st. Some boards had the center ranked in the top 70. So, great value by general manger Tom Fitzgerald and his staff at 114th overall.
Grade: A-
No. 161: David Rozsíval, F (sixth round)
With their penultimate pick in the draft, the Devils once again selected another forward. Like their previous pick, they went with a foreign-borne player, in Czechia’s David Rozsíval.
The 18-year-old Rozsíval spent most of his season in the Czechia under-20 junior league in 2024-25. Across 30 games, he scored 17 goals to go along with 20 assists. His 37 points ranked 32nd in the league among 529 players to skate in a game, which is impressive given he was only 17 years old for a majority of the season. Rozsíval played a lot internationally for his country, posting 16 total points across 24 junior international games.
Rozsíval is another that profiles with a strong two-way game. Defensively, he is already advanced, creating turnovers and thriving in transition. His offensive game is said to be based on play around the net and on a strong forecheck. The needed improvements are related to his offensive game, getting that area to a more versatile place.
The Sound of Hockey‘s consensus draft board had Rozsíval ranked 135th. So, from a value perspective, another strong pick at 161st overall.
Grade: B+
No. 178: Sigge Holmgren, D (sixth round)
The Devils’ final pick in the draft was their first and only defenseman, Swede Sigge Holmgren. The 18-year-old is listed at 6-foot-1 and 181 pounds. He is right-handed.
Holmgren has played the duration of his young career in the Swedish junior system. In 2023-24, he played across three levels of it, spending the majority of it in the under-18 Nationell league. He had 16 points in 18 games, and, overall, had 25 points across 34 games. The 16 points he had in 18 under-18 Nationell league games ranked third among defensemen in the league.
Based off his offensive production, it is evident Holmgren projects as an offensive, puck-moving defensemen. Holmgren was set to begin his 2024-25 season in the under-20 Swedish junior league, however, did not play in a game. The reason as to why has yet to be reported. As far as rankings go, Holmgren was unranked by a majority of big boards.
Grade: D-
Final Thoughts
The Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald seemingly had a blueprint they wanted to follow on Saturday. The team focused on U.S.-born, speedy and skilled forwards for their first several picks. Before shifting to a couple foreign-borne forwards and added one defenseman and goaltender to round things out.
Drafting is always projection, and projection, for the most part is difficult. However, one way to enhance your chances at success is drafting individuals who are regarded higher by the consensus and providing yourself with as much perceived, “value” as possible. For the most part, outside two picks, the Devils either drafted players expected to go before where they were drafted, or right at where they were draft, that is a formula for success.
Final Grade: B