So far, in this series, we have looked at 12 New Jersey Devils’ prospects. All of these 12 examined are currently playing in the AHL with the Devils’ affiliate the Utica Comets. So, what about the remaining prospects? New Jersey has roughly nine prospects playing with either the big club or with junior leagues throughout North America. Let’s take a look at those today.

Note, the article featuring the forward is here and article featuring the defensemen and goaltenders is here.

New Jersey Devils

Jesper Boqvist

Boqvist is arguably playing the best hockey of his career. Over his past seven games, he has six points (four goals, two assists). Unfortunately, outside this small run, Boqvist’s season as a whole has not been pretty. He ranks 21st on the Devils in expected goals above replacement (xGAR) and 16th in actual goals above replacement (26 skaters qualified).

Additionally, in year’s past, Boqvist’s NHL career has not exactly gone well (as described in the above). Overall, despite the strong run he is on, it still appears Boqvist is a fringe-NHL player or at-worst a very good AHL player. The 23-year old has only played in 85 career games, so there is still certainly room to grow. Hopefully, he can build on this recent strong stretch.

Marian Studenic

Studenic has had an underrated defensive impact this season. In total, he has appeared in 15 NHL games, only tallying a single point. As his offensive xGAR backs up, he has struggled offensively this season. However, on the defensive end Studenic has done well. Through only 16 games, his defensive xGAR of 0.4 ranks seventh on the team.

Overall, Studenic has flashed the offensive skills in the AHL. If that game can translate just a tad to the NHL-level there is an avenue for him to become a successful fourth-liner who is reliable in his own end. Worst-case scenario, the 23-year old excels in the AHL.

Tyce Thompson

Thompson has been on the shelf since November due to an upper-body injury that required surgery. He was only able to appear in two NHL games this season, and in nine last year tallying just a lone assist. He also appeared in seven games for Utica (AHL) this season where he has four goals and three assists.

The first step for Thompson is to get healthy. After that, time in the AHL will surely benefit him as one would expect he puts up terrific numbers there. Given how productive he was at Providence College (NCAA) – 69 points in 59 games over his sophomore and junior seasons – there should be a spot in the lineup in the former fourth-round pick’s future.

College Hockey – NCAA

Cole Brady

Brady has entered his sophomore season at Arizona State University. His sample size this season is about the same as last, and his numbers are sightly worse. In his freshman year, he made 13 starts posting a .910 save percentage for a very poor team (7-16-3 season record). This season, the Sun Devils have improved slightly – 15-16 record – but Brady’s save percentage has dropped to .900.

Brady’s junior numbers were okay, with his most impressive season coming in the NAHL where he put together a .921 save percentage across 43 starts. As a prospect, it is a tad difficult to forecast the 21-year old’s development. As a former fifth rounder, who has put up lackluster numbers, it appears likely he can be effective at the AHL-level. That is if New Jersey even elects to sign him.

Ethan Edwards

Lost in what is the juggernaut that is the University of Michigan, defenseman Ethan Edwards is having a nice season for himself. In his first NCAA season, he has nine points in 25 games played. He is playing only 13-minutes a night.

A deeper dive into his underlying numbers paint a nice picture. He is above average in a lot of different categories – notably in puck-handling and offensive play-driving. He does have some work to do defensively. However, at where the Devils drafted him he can provide nice value one day. There is top-six upside.

Luke Hughes

The 18-year old defenseman is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in all of hockey. In his freshman year at the University of Michigan, he has a staggering 29 points (13 goals and 16 assists) in 30 games played. This total leads all college defenseman this season. He is doing all this playing roughly only 17-minutes a night.

As the above shows, Hughes does have some work to do in his own end. He has not graded well in some important defensive metrics such as puck battles and takeaways. However, in just about every other part of his game he has been elite.

At only 18-years old, Luke Hughes is already grading out as a dangerous offensive-defenseman who has the chance to be elite on the power play. His defensive game is a work in progress, but he has all the tools to improve in this area to a point where he becomes a very strong top-pairing defenseman. The Devils should feel extremely confident about the fourth overall pick they used on Hughes.

Case McCarthy

Boston University’s 21-year old defenseman is in his junior season. He has 14 points in 21 games played this year which is by far the best pace of his three-year college career.

McCarthy is getting nearly 20-minutes of ice time a night. In these minutes he has been grading out very well transitionally, but has struggled defensively. His defensive metrics rank in the 21st percentile – mostly due to poor puck battle play and not generating takeaways.

Overall, McCarthy projects out as a solid AHL defenseman who may be able to provide some depth at the NHL-level one day. Possibly as a seventh defenseman.

Patrick Moynihan

After an extremely successful sophomore season, where he totaled 15 points in 17 games, Moynihan has slowed down a tad. He has played 32 games this year, totaling 11 goals and 13 assists. This point total ranks fourth on Providence.

Moynihan prototypes as a hard-working penalty-killing type player. There is always an avenue for these type of players to the NHL. At his best, he can possibly serve as a bottom-six, defensive-reliant forward. At his worst, he can be a very valuable asset to Utica (AHL).

CHL

Chase Stillman

In what was a surprising selection during last year’s NHL Entry Draft, the 29th overall selection is struggling to produce in the OHL. In total, he has 31 points in 38 games played this season which featured him being traded. For whatever it matters, he is a minus-21 across appearances with both the Sudbury Wolves and Peterborough Petes. In total, there were 50 forwards taken from the CHL last season. Stillman’s scoring pace is arguably the worst of any taken. He was the ninth CHL forward drafted.

By no means does this mean Stillman is a “bust” or will not be a meaningful NHL-contributor. To be frank, it is too early to tell. Additionally, each of the teams Stillman has played for this season have struggled mightily. That may have something to do with his lack of production.

Regardless, at the end of the day, Stillman projects out as a two-way, bottom-six forward with a high-motor and strong work ethic. He’s certainly a player many would want on their team. However, taking him as early as New Jersey did is just not ideal. This especially given his pre-draft scoring concerns which have continued in his draft-plus one season.

What’s Next

Next up in the series, the final installment, will be the overseas prospects. After that, in a separate article, I will be posting my personal New Jersey Devils’ top-25 prospects.

All player cards used above are courtesy of Lassi Alanen on Twitter. He is Director of European Scouting for Elite Prospects and does terrific work. Give him a follow here.