The New Jersey Devils are looking for value on Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft.
On Friday, the Devils selected Alexander Command with the 12th pick in the first round out of Sweden. It’s a solid pick for the Devils who take a player that can slot behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier at some point, playing an Anton Lundell-type role in New Jersey.
Devils Draft Picks Day 2
The Devils have four picks on the second day of the draft. Such picks include:
Pick No.35 (second round) – *TRADED TO CHI*
Pick No. 37 (second round)
Pick No.44 (second round)
**Pick 119 (fourth round) – ACQUIRED FROM CHI**Pick 140 (fifth round) – TRADED TO COL*
Pick 149 (fifth round) – ACQUIRED FROM COL**
Pick 172 (sixth round)
Pick 222 (seventh round) – ACQUIRED FROM COL**
Devils Trades
On the clock in the second round with pick No.35, Sunny Mehta traded the pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for picks No. 37 & 119 (fourth round).
Again on the clock, this time in the fifth round, the Devils traded pick 140 to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for 149 (fourth round) & 222 (seventh round).
Devils Picks
#37 – F Matias Vanhanen | Current Grade: A
Daniel Amoia — Once again, GM Sunny Mehta seemed to make what the general public considered to be a bit of a reach at #37, selecting F Matias Vanhanen. But if they were eyeing this player the whole time, they got some great value by trading back from #35 and adding another pick (#119) in the process.
In seven major draft mocks, he was projected to go an average of #64. Seeing his totals and underlying numbers, it’s hard to understand why aside from his slightly undersized 5-foot-11 frame and the fact that he went undrafted last year. But numbers are numbers; Vanhanen had an incredible 87 points (21 G, 66 A) in just 62 games for Everett (WHL).
TSN’s Craig Button did have him ranked at #28. That seems like a much better valuation. Vanhanen also added 24 points (12 G, 12 A) in 18 playoff games. The Sportsnet broadcast called him “the second-most prolific playmaker in the draft class”.
As you saw last night (Alexander Command) and with the next pick, a lot of his underlying metrics look super promising:
At the end of the day, if you look at any year’s draft, many players fail to reach their draft expectations. Mehta deserves benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise. Vanhanen’s counting stats alone seem to make the gamble worth it — and Mehta clearly has a set plan in the sort of players he’s drafting.
In his media availability, Vanhanen said Jack Hughes is one of his idols. He’s been following Jack for “almost 10 years”.
#44 – D Nikita Shcherbakov | Current Grade: B+
Daniel Amoia – The 18-year-old Shcherbakov is very large, to say the least. At 6-foot-5, he carries a nice offensive touch as well. He especially excels in transition and possesses great skating and defensive instincts.
When looking through reputable mocks, it appears the Devils took Shcherbakov right around where many expected him to go. According to The Hockey Wriers’ Draft Expert Alessandro Seren Rosso, he “has a great reach, but he needs to build some mass and play a more physical game to become even more of a force, especially if he can elevate his physical game to match his skating.”
Tape2Tape Prospects grades the pick an A+. While I think that’s a little too bullish, the tools are certainly there for him to potentially become a top-four defenseman one day.
He’ll remain with Salavat Yulaev’s system in the Russian KHL next season — and if he cracks the KHL roster out of camp, he’ll get some crucial experience playing pro at a high level.
There is obviously still plenty of time for Shcherbakov to grow into his frame and develop. He might be further away than some of the other guys the Devils drafted, but this is another move that continues to stockpile their pool nicely.
#119 – F Lavr Gashilov | Current Grade: B+
Daniel Amoia — Before anything, it’s important to remember the Devils essentially get Gashilov for free, presumably still taking a player they wanted (Vanhanen) after getting pick #119 for moving back a couple spots earlier.
Gashilov certainly has high offensive upside; he had a very impressive 69 points (16 G, 53 A) in 51 games in the Russian MHL. He was ranked #51 by Dobber Prospects and #52 by SMAHT Scouting. According to Eite Prospects’ 2026 NHl Draft Guide, he “zips pucks through newly opened pass seams, connects off give-and-goes, and funnels everything to the inside, gifting teammates high-danger looks.”
There’s more of that playmaking emphasis that the Devils have shown with Command and Vanhanen. Notably, nearly every player they’ve selected has also been older than a lot of their drafted peers — yet all still young at 18 years of age. It’s probably coincidence — or maybe an exploit where other teams give too much of an edge to the draft’s youngest players. But he also has great underlyings, which is another common theme:
Another undersized add (5-foot-11), Gashilov seems like he’ll need to work on his defensive attention to detail. But the offensive skillset is a certain risk worth taking — especially with how the pick was acquired. This could be one we look back at years from now, much like Jesper Bratt, and wonder, ‘How did they pull this off!?’
#149 – G Daniil Rusakovich | Current Grade: B
James Nichols — You just knew at some point the mid-round goalie snag was coming, and the Devils did just that taking Daniil Rusakovich.
Rusakovich is a big, projectable 6-foot-4 Belarusian who just wrapped up a promising first big chunk of junior hockey. He showed real poise between the pipes this season, posting respectable numbers in the MHL with a 1.94 GAA and .913 SV% in 20 games.
What you notice first is how calmly he reads the play—stays patient, tracks pucks cleanly through traffic, and generally keeps himself in good position without a lot of unnecessary movement.
He’s got solid rebound control for a young guy and competes hard, refusing to let shooters get comfortable. There’s still work ahead on sharpening his lateral agility and handling those chaotic scrambles around the net, but the raw ingredients are there: size, a level head, and the foundation of a technically sound game.
This is classic late-round value for the Devils—a developmental bet on a tall keeper who could carve out a real role down the line if he keeps progressing. Quiet pick with upside.
#172 – G Luke Wilfley | Current Grade: B-
James Nichols — The Devils took a swing on a gritty, two-way forward from the Portland Winterhawks.
Wilfley, a 6-foot-1, 179-pound right-shot center from Englewood, Colorado, put together a decent first full junior season in the WHL, finishing with 9 goals and 6 assists in 66 games while logging heavy minutes in a rebuilding lineup. He wasn’t just a passenger either—he showed real willingness to go to the dirty areas, win battles along the boards, and throw his weight around.
Scouts like his heavy shot from the half-wall and slot, along with the compete level that lets him finish checks and create turnovers. He’s got enough hockey IQ to play responsibly away from the puck, which helped him earn trust even on nights when the offense wasn’t flowing. There’s still work to do tightening up his hands in tight spaces and adding consistency to his scoring touch, but the physical tools and motor are already NHL-caliber for a late-round guy.
He has an outside chance to develop into a reliable, hard-nosed, and capable bottom-six contributor who can kill penalties and chip in timely goals. Okay value at 149.
#222 – G Quinn McKenzie | Current Grade: B+
James Nichols — New Jersey grabbed a skilled, shifty center from the Soo Greyhounds. The 5-foot-10 Pennsylvania native had himself a strong rookie OHL campaign, putting up 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 65 games while playing with pace and creativity. He’s got quick hands in tight areas, sees the ice well, and can make plays at speed—whether it’s threading passes through traffic or finding quiet spots to let his shot go.
McKenzie plays with good energy and isn’t afraid to get involved physically despite his size, which helps him win battles and create second chances.
Scouts point to his hockey sense and ability to drive play as real strengths, though he’ll need to keep adding strength and consistency when things get heavier at the next level. He’s committed to Penn State, giving him a solid development path ahead.
For the Devils, it’s another versatile forward with middle-six upside who can handle different roles. A late-round find with the skill and smarts with an outside chance to push for a pro spot.
