Introduction

This is a continuation of our draft review series, where we take another look at previous drafts with the benefit of hindsight. Unlike the 2018 and 2019 draft reviews, this one will have many players you may already recognize. Players like Nico Hischier and Jesper Boqvist have made NHL impacts, but others are still far away from the show. This article will give you updates on all of these players and how close they are to the NHL.

Nico Hischier

Position: Center

Draft Rank: Round one, pick one

NHL Rights: Six years remaining, $7,250,000 cap hit

Age: 22, January 4, 1999

Quote (via Elite Prospects’ Rafik Soliman in 2017):

“Nico Hischier is a highly-skilled offensive forward. Smart at both ends of the ice, as he plays a reliable two-way game. [He] has good size and still room to get stronger. Excellent skater with good quickness and top speed. Possesses strong hockey sense and on-ice awareness for both attacking opponents and his teammates and with this ability, he can escape fore-checkers and make quick plays, as he sees passing lanes before they open. Has game-breaking abilities and can turn the outcome of a game. Nico Hischier leads by example has the potential to be a top-line center and a clutch player his Team can turn to late in the game.”

Analysis

We all know how good Nico Hischier is. A 52-point rookie season to go along with a 7th place finish in Calder Trophy voting. He followed that up by scoring at a higher goals and points-per-game rate in his sophomore season. Unfortunately, he’s fallen off a bit over the past couple of seasons. Hischier had a disappointing, but still ok 2019-20 campaign. However, he put up what could be considered a dud of a season in 2021 after suffering from multiple injuries, a concussion, and contracted Covid-19 in a year which also saw him named captain of the team.

Where Does He Stand?

With everything the former number one pick has shown so far in his career, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him bounce back next season or even if he had the best year of his career. When it comes to his two-way game the sky’s the limit for Hischier, so some Selke Trophy talk for best defensive forward could be in the near future.

Jesper Boqvist

Position: Center

Draft Rank: round two, pick 36

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, ELC (one year remaining, $925,000 cap hit)

Age: 22, born October 30, 1998

Quote (via Devils scouting director Paul Castron):

“He’s a very skilled player, really good speed and puck skills, a player that we see as an offensive type of player, he’s got speed and hands, intelligence… he’s a very talented player and we’re very happy to have him.”

Analysis

Over the past couple of seasons, Boqvist has split time between the AHL and the NHL with mixed results. In 2021, the young Swede had four goals and three assists in 28 games, playing mostly in the bottom-six. He also notched seven points in eight games with the Binghamton Devils (AHL) and 10 points in 13 games in Sweden. 

He has the talent to impress in the AHL, but his physical ability limits him in the NHL. Like many other young players (including Jack Hughes), Boqvist simply needs to bulk up and get more stamina. He needs to be able to handle the everyday grind of the NHL to receive a permanent call-up.

Where Does He Stand?

Boqvist has developed slowly and still has a ways to go but has middle-six potential. Unfortunately, the Devils have a logjam of young centers on the rise and already in the NHL, so Boqvist may not be in Jersey long-term.

Fabian Zetterlund

Position: Right Wing

Draft Rank: round three, pick 63

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, ELC (one year remaining, $809,167 cap hit)

Age: 21, born August 25, 1999

Quote (via The Hockey Writers writer Alex Chauvancy):

“Zetterlund may only be 5-foot-11, but he checks in at 218 pounds, so the physical play of the NHL shouldn’t be an issue for him. Another strength of his is his shot, which has plenty of power and is pretty accurate. His upside isn’t that high, but he has the makeup of a modern, bottom-six winger who plays with an edge but has enough offensive tools to be productive.”

Analysis

Fabian Zetterlund is an interesting player in that he has all the pieces to be a successful at the NHL level. He has the size, the skill, the shot, but unfortunately, not the ice-time. The one glaring flaw in his game isn’t even his fault and that is the fact that he tore his ACL in 2018-19. He just hasn’t quite been the same player since then and it’s resulted in the aforementioned lack of ice time.

Zetterlund has played most of the past two seasons in the AHL where he has been building back up not just his actual skill but also his confidence. During this time, Zetterlund has played 80 games and scored 15 goals and 38 total points in that time. He actually matched his point total from 2019-20 in 2021 in 12 fewer games.

Where Does He Stand?

He has yet to play an NHL game, but Zetterlund could become a staple in the bottom-six in the next few years. 

Reilly Walsh

Position: Defense

Draft Rank: round three, pick 81

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, ELC (two years remaining, $925,000 cap-hit)

Age: 22, born April 21, 1999

Quote (via Fanshed writer Vincent Parise):

“Where Reilly Walsh succeeds, for the most part, comes with his passing ability. He has been able to quarterback a power play which helps him create for his teammates. He has also been known to use his big bomb of a shot when pucks are laid nicely for him. There is no doubt that if he reached all of this potential in the NHL he would be a key piece to the Devils’ future.”

Analysis

A talented Harvard product, Reilly Walsh has the potential to be the Devils’ next high-powered offensive-defenseman. He has put up stellar numbers with the Crimson and most recently Binghamton (AHL), notching 15 points in 33 games last season. He seems to fit the archetype of a Ty Smith or a P.K. Subban in that he is not afraid to jump on the attack and create defense with offense. Sadly, he probably does not have the same potential as Smith, but the playing styles are similar. 

Where Does He Stand?

That being said, Walsh has quite a bit of room to develop and the best is yet to come. His puck skills can definitely take him a long way. Realistically, Walsh will be a bottom to middle-pairing guy who can create a lot of opportunities. He will play most of next season with the Binghamton Devils, but be on the lookout for his NHL debut.

Nikita Popugaev

Position: Winger

Draft Rank: round four, pick 98

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, unsigned

Age: 22, born November 20, 1998

Quote (via The Draft Analyst from June 2017):

“Popugaev is a mammoth power forward with the kind of overall package designed to score goals in the modern-day NHL. His strengths are obvious the second he hits the ice, as he possesses a massive wingspan and a long stride that allows him to keep the puck away from chasing opponents. And while his shot-release combo is absolutely deadly, he can also make plays and find the open man with accuracy. Nevertheless, the effort isn’t always there, and far too often does he come across as disengaged. He’ll never be the guy to use in a late-game faceoff or change the momentum of the game with physicality. Still, he is a dual shoot-pass threat who can be next to unstoppable when he feels like putting in the effort.”

Analysis

Popugaev fell in the 2017 draft after a lackluster second half of his 2016-17 season which saw him traded to Prince George (WHL) mid-way through. Everything that you watch and read will clearly show you that he had and still has the talent to have gone in the first round, so what happened?

Well, first of all, he has a serious effort issue. Sometimes he’ll just stop trying and that’s clearly what happened after the unwanted trade to the Cougars. In his first 40 games with Moose Jaw, he put in 51 points, but only collected 18 after he was flipped. 

This has continued somewhat as he’s split time with New Jersey’s AHL and ECHL affiliates as well as multiple Russian teams. Most recently he put up three points in 12 games in the KHL after being acquired midseason by Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Where Does He Stand?

If he ever decides to sign an NHL contract with the organization, I could see him becoming a decent bottom or even middle-six forward. However, I’m not sure the Devils would even want him to come over. Something very important that they’ve preached in recent years has been compete level, a category the Popugaev does not exactly thrive in.

Gilles Senn

Position: Goaltender

Draft Rank: round five, pick 129

NHL Rights: Restricted Free Agent

Age: 25, born March 1, 1996

Quote (via Jeff Ulmer of SB Nation):

“What two factors stand out is his agility in net with a 6’ 5” frame and how quickly he is able to regain net presence once he is off his knees, and the glove is a work in progress but it’s coming along rapidly.”

Analysis

Nothing has come easy for the young Senn. His career has been mired with struggle, especially after his move to North America. This could be chalked up to the differences between the European and American game, which takes some getting used to. Similarly, he played behind an atrocious Binghamton Devils team whose key players left for the NHL.

Where Does He Stand?

At 25, Senn is running out of time for meaningful development. Despite this, he has the tools to break out of the AHL, at least in a part-time capacity. I could see him as a potential option as the third-string netminder of the future, that is, if the Devils re-sign him, which is extremely unlikely at this point. Senn recently signed a three-year deal with HC Davos of the Swiss National League.

Marian Studenic

Position: Right Wing

Draft Rank: round five, pick 143

NHL Rights: Restricted Free Agent

Age: 22, born October 28, 1998

Quote (via Devin Yang of SB Nation):

“Studenic has the tools of a scoring machine but lacks consistency needed to succeed at a high level.”

Analysis

Marian Studenic got into eight games with New Jersey this season, scoring two points including a goal. In his time in the big league, he was a decent two-way forward who could kill penalties and push play up the ice. His main assets are his speed and quickly evolving shot.

Where Does He Stand?

While Studenic did get some NHL time this past season, the Devils will be better next year and Marian will move further down the team’s prospect depth chart. He might get in a few games here and there if injury strikes the team, but I can’t see him claiming a consistent spot on the roster. At least this upcoming season.

Aarne Talvitie

Position: Center

Draft Rank: round six, pick 160

NHL Rghts: New Jersey Devils, ELC (two years remaining, $842,500 cap hit)

Age: 22, born February 11, 1999

Quote (via Corey Masisak of The Athletic):

“Talvitie’s skill set could make him a No. 3 center if he develops well over the next year or two. He’d probably need to max out on his skating ability, but he’s got a body that can handle winning battles in the tough areas and is a smart, two-way player.”

Analysis

A Penn. State alumnus, Talvitie is an intriguing offensive asset. Drafted in the sixth round, the Finnish forward has the potential to develop all the tools you’d want in a forward: speed, passing, and a lightning-fast shot. He put up good numbers in the NCAA with 48 points in 68 games but struggled last year with Binghamton (AHL).

Another thing to consider with Talvitie is a knee injury he sustained in the 2018-19 season. It seemed to limit his speed but didn’t affect his play; however, it is still something to watch out for.

Where Does He Stand?

At 22-years old, Talvitie has a lot of room to grow, especially after his disastrous AHL season last year. This season should be telling for him, but if all goes well, I could see him as a dynamic complement to the bottom-six

Jocktan Chainey

Position: Defense

Draft Rank: round seven, pick 143

NHL Rights: Retired

Age: 21, born September 8, 1999

Analysis

Jocktan Chainey put up just nine points in an injury-riddled 2018-19 season which saw him play just 32 WMJHL games in the regular season. After the season ended Chainey decided to end his career in the CHL early to focus on education.

About a year later, the former Halifax Moose defenseman found out that his eight-month-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Thankfully in October of 2020, his daughter Ivy was permanently discharged from the hospital after her cancer was cured and eliminated. Hopefully for good.

Where Does He Stand?

Hockey doesn’t seem to be in Chainey’s future, and that’s ok, family should be the number one priority.

Yegor Zaitsev

Position: Defense

Draft Rank: round seven, pick 205

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, unsigned

Age: 23, born May 3, 1998

Analysis

For the past few years, Zaitsev has been grinding through the KHL, one of the toughest leagues in the world. He doesn’t score many points, typical of the KHL, but is stout in his own end. He takes a lot of penalties and has gotten plenty of playing time to develop his game.

Where Does He Stand?

It is well known that the right side of the Devils’ defense is barren, and Zaitsev might one day alleviate that. Furthermore, if he makes the jump to North America, I could see him develop his offensive game. With all of this in mind, Zaitsev could be a bottom-to-middle pairing defenseman depending on how he develops.

Matthew Hellickson

Position: Defense

Draft Rank: round seven, pick 205

NHL Rights: New Jersey Devils, unsigned

Age: 23, born March 21, 1998

Quote (via Devils development coach Eric Weinrich):

“Matt is not a big player, but he gets around the ice with ease and has excellent footwork at this point in his career. This is one area that will give him a chance to make the jump to pro more seamlessly since the game today has a lot of pace and speed.”

Analysis

Matthew Hellickson played four seasons with the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame. During those years he put up only 52 points in 146 games but developed his game to fit the mold of a shutdown defenseman. New Jersey Devils development coach Eric Weinrich told nhl.com that if he had to compare Hellickson to a player currently in the NHL, he would have to bring up a familiar face for Devils’ fans: Andy Greene.

Hellickson doesn’t excel in one specific area, but he’s built up and developed his game to fit in almost any game situation. This even got him to a point where he was a consistent member of the United States at the World Championships this past May and June. He was being put out there in big situations such as defending a one-goal lead late in a game. 

Where Does He Stand?

With all this in mind, don’t be surprised if Hellickson signs his first NHL contract. He signed his first professional one with the Binghamton Devils earlier this year where he got in a few games. I could see Hellickson making the team as a bottom-pairing defenseman, but with the number of prospects the Devils have on the left side, it’s unlikely. Still, he’s come a long way from the fourth to last pick in the draft.