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The Devils and general manager Sunny Mehta went back to work Saturday to complete the final six rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft.
After selecting Swedish center Alexander Command with the No.
12 overall pick Friday night, Mehta shifted his focus toward rebuilding a prospect pipeline that has thinned considerably in recent years.
Throughout the day, Mehta made two trades to move down in the draft while acquiring additional selections.
The Devils entered Saturday with four picks and ultimately turned them into six.
New Jersey began the day holding the 35th overall selection, a pick acquired from the Calgary Flames earlier in the week as part of the Simon Nemec trade.
Mehta dealt that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the 37th and 119th overall selections.
Later, he traded the 140th overall pick to the Colorado Avalanche for the 149th and 222nd overall picks.
In essence, Mehta added two extra lottery tickets.
The moves offered an early glimpse into how the Devils new general manager intends to operate.
Mehta has built his reputation as an analytics-driven executive, and trading down to accumulate additional draft capital is a strategy often supported by statistical models that value increasing the number of opportunities to find NHL players.
The contrast with the previous regime is notable.
During Tom Fitzgeralds six seasons as Devils general manager, the organization never traded down during the draft to acquire additional selections.
That isnt necessarily an indictment of Fitzgeralds approach, but it does highlight a philosophical difference between the two front offices.
Here is a look at the six players the Devils selected Saturday: Matias Vanhanen, LW (2nd Round, 37th Overall) Everett Silvertips (WHL) DOB: Sept.
11, 2007 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 176 pounds Vanhanen finished fifth in the WHL with 87 points (21 goals, 66 assists) in 62 games while adding another 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 18 playoff contests.
He also represented Finlands U20 team, recording 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 14 games.
Considered one of the drafts premier playmakers, Vanhanen is praised for his elite vision and passing ability, consistently creating offense for his teammates.
Nikita Shcherbakov, D (2nd Round, 44th Overall) Neftekamsk Toros (VHL) DOB: Oct.
23, 2007 | Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 187 pounds Shcherbakov is an excellent skater for a player his size and possesses strong puck-moving ability.
Scouts are intrigued by his long-term development potential.
If he reaches his ceiling, its easy to envision him joining fellow Russian defenseman Anton Silayev to give the Devils two towering, physical blueliners capable of shutting down opposing forwards.
Lavr Gashilov, C (4th Round, 119th Overall) Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) DOB: Sept.
23, 2007 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 185 pounds Gashilov recorded 69 points (16 goals, 53 assists) in 51 games in the MHL last season.
He is a patient, intelligent offensive player who processes the game well and consistently creates scoring opportunities for teammates.
Daniil Rusakovich, G (5th Round, 149th Overall) Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) DOB: Apr.
17, 2008 | Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 183 pounds Rusakovich posted impressive numbers in the MHL, finishing with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 20 games.
At 6-foot-4, he adds another intriguing goaltending prospect to the Devils system.
Luke Wilfley, C (6th Round, 172nd Overall) Portland Winterhawks (WHL) DOB: June 30, 2008 | Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 179 pounds Wilfley totaled 15 points (nine goals, six assists) with Portland last season.
He projects as a power forward who embraces the physical side of the game and competes hard on every shift.
Quinn McKenzie, C (7th Round, 222nd Overall) Soo Greyhounds (OHL) DOB: Nov.
28, 2007 | Height: 5-foot-9 | Weight: 176 pounds McKenzie produced 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) with the Soo Greyhounds last season.
Despite his size, he is an explosive skater who attacks defensemen with speed and plays an aggressive offensive game.
One clear trend emerged from Mehtas first draft: the Devils prioritized centers.
Four of the clubs seven selections came down the middle, reflecting the organizations desire to strengthen one of hockeys most valuable positions.
While some of those players could eventually shift to the wing, adding center depth throughout the system was clearly a priority.
Another noticeable theme was the Devils confidence in their Russian scouting department.
Three of the teams seven selections came from players developing in Russia, suggesting the organization believes it has identified value in that market.
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