Devils Plans Revealed for 6-foot-7 First-Rounder Anton Silayev

The New Jersey Devils made a huge selection with their first-round pick in 2024—in more ways than one. 6-foot-7 defenseman Anton Silayev was selected with the 10th overall pick, though the Devils knew that he had a contract with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL that would run through the 2025-26 season. 

Now that that contract is coming to an end in short order, the plan for the Devils and their top prospect is to get him here to North America in time for Development Camp this summer. Insider David Pagnotta fills us in on the DFO Rundown:

The plan is for him to sign his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils and then come on over to our side of the pond. It's not an easy process, there are a lot of hoops, with the Visa process...

My understanding is the goal for the Devils for the player is to be on this side of the pond in time for Development Camp at the end of June, early July. That's the target to bring him over... That's the timeline. Every indication is that he will be signing with the Devils.

The KHL season is just about to enter its playoffs, so it won't be too long before that process begins, and the wheels start to turn. As Pagnotta admits, it can be a slog sometimes to get through that Visa process, etc. 

The towering left-shot d-man is a premier, shutdown defender who is also highly mobile. He combines elite size with exceptional skating, mobility, and reach. 

6-foot-7 Devils prospect Anton Silayev 'fights every battle like it’s life or death out there'

He made his debut in the KHL at the age of 17, and had an immediate impact. Per Steve Ellis of Daily Faceoff, Kilayev was the only U-18 KHL defenseman in that league's history to have played in more than 25 games in a season—He played in 63. He's now played a total of 187 games there over the last three seasons. 

In advance of that 2024 Draft, one scout said about Silayev, “He fights every battle like it’s life or death out there... It’s punishing. He never loses a physical battle.

"He’s fearless. You notice him every time he’s out there.” 

Yes, at 6'7", 207 pounds, at the age of 19, it would be hard to miss him. 

Silayev turns 20 next month. 

Photo: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images