In our second to final installment of reviewing and analyzing all New Jersey Devils’ prospects, we examine the Devils’ European forwards. The Devils have 13 true prospects playing overseas, so two final articles – including this one – will finish off the series. If you would like to check out the previous installments, you can find them below:
Forwards
Zakhar Bardakov
The large Russian forward was drafted in the seventh-round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He currently plays in the KHL for SKA St. Petersburg where he has three points in 19 games. He has also played two games in the VHL (Russian minor league) tallying two points.
It is great to see that Bardakov has 63 games of KHL experience under his belt. However, as a former seventh-round pick, the odds of him making it to the NHL are slim-to-none. It will be interesting to see if the power forward ever makes the leap to the AHL. However, given his production, it appears we will most likely never see Bardakov in North America.
Benjamin Baumgartner
Baumgartner is a 2020 sixth-round selection and playing currently in the NL (Swiss top professional league) with Lausanne HC. This is the fourth straight season he has played in the league. Outside his first season, which was a partial one, his production has steadily declined. He has a terrific 2019-20 season scoring 27 points in 37 games, but since then he has totaled 25 points in 47 games then only 10 in 34 this season.
The five-foot-nine wing is already 21-years old. When drafted, he was a very intriguing prospect. However, unfortunately, this intrigue has wavered due to his regression. There may still be a path for the center to make his way to the AHL. But, it does seem less likely as it did when he was first drafted.
Arseni Gritsyuk
Gritsyuk has the chance to be one of the bigger steals of the 2019 NHL Draft. As a former fifth-round pick, he has absolutely tore up the KHL (Russian top professional league). As a 20-year old, he has 28 points (16 goals and 12 assists) in only 39 games played this season. He is also currently playing great hockey for the Russian Olympic team, totaling three points in four games on a team consisting largely of KHL professionals.
This is not the first time he took a league by storm. During the 2019-20 season, he tallied 63 points in 59 MHL games (Russian junior league). This was the eight-highest mark in the league.
Thanks to an electric shot and terrific skating abilities, when the Devils are finally able to bring Gritsyuk over, he should excel immediately. His contract does expire after this season, so he could be in North American sooner rather than later. At the end of the day, he is one of the top prospects in a good Devils’ system. This is saying something for the former fifth-round selection.
Eetu PÀkkilÀ
The 2018 seventh-round pick is now 22-years old. He has played the last three seasons in the Liiga (Finnish top professional league) totaling 41 points in 126 games played. PĂ€kkilĂ€ did perform well in the Finnish under-20 back in 2019 where he had 60 points (38 goals) in 52 games. Unfortunately, it appears this success didn’t exactly carry-over into the Liiga.
PÀkkilÀ is another skater that showed signs of intrigue at one point, specifically after the 2019-20 season. However, his Liiga production has not quite backed it up. He is under contract until the end of the 2023-24 season with IIves, and he is already 22-years old. So, his North American hockey career may be over before it started as it seem unlikely he is ever signed by New Jersey.
Nikola Pasic
Pasic is another former seventh-round selection, specifically back in 2019. He has played his whole junior career in Sweden. Most recently splitting time in the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan, the top and second-tier professional leagues in Sweden.
His HockeyAllsvenkan career is what built the intrigue – he totaled 43 points in 67 games. However, he has been held scoreless in 13 SHL games this season which is a comfortable step back from his 15 points in 52 games the previous season. To put it simply, Pasic has fallen off a cliff this year.
He falls under the same theme as the two above forwards. Each European prospects that were drafted very late and at one point showed signs of immense potential, especially Pasic. However, like the other two, he has regressed. Out of the three, and given his current SHL deal expires at the end of this season, he is the most likely to receive a contract from the Devils. However, given how hard he has fallen this now appears unlikely.
Jaromir Pytlik
Pytlik was a fourth-round pick back in 2020. The six-foot-three, 201-pound center has good size and has played across five different leagues the past three seasons. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was only able to play 12 games during the 2020-21 calendar year. Eight of which were in international competition. He currently plays in the top professional league in Czechia. He only has three points in 22 games this season.
Pytlik, even after drafting, projected out as a 200-foot, big-bodied center. So, do not be overly surprised the scoring is not there yet. Out of the prospects so far on this list – besides Gristyuk – he is by far the most likely to dawn a Utica Comets’ (AHL) sweater. However, given how COVID-19 basically derailed his development as well as his struggles this season, it would not be surprising if New Jersey declines to sign him.
Samu Salminen
Last year’s third-round pick is one of the more enticing in the Devils’ system. The six-foot-three center/wing has produced well the past three years. He has been playing in Finland’s under-20 junior league, totaling 77 points in 71 games. He is currently Jokerit’s under-20 team captain and is working on a point-pace that is higher than 1.00.
The University of Denver is certainly getting an intriguing prospect. It is worth keeping close eyes on how Salminen fairs at the NCAA-level. Given his junior production, it would not be a surprise if he fairs quite well. He has all the tools, especially offensively as a playmaker, to be looked upon as a steal in a few years.
What’s Next?
Next up is the last installment of the series will look at the remaining overseas prospects. These being defensemen and a single goaltender. After that is released, a final top-20 list will be dropped.
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