Here's Where the Devils Rank in U23 Players Across the NHL

James Nichols

September 2, 2025

It’s well known that at this point, the New Jersey Devils are past the point of rebuilding, and are at least a playoff contender. Their aspirations for the 2025-26 season are simple to say, but difficult to convert on. Become a championship contender. However, they still own a decent crop of youth that ranks among the best U23 talent league-wide.

READ MORE: 3 Devils With the Most to Gain or Lose in 2025-26

On Tuesday, Cory Pronman revealed his tier list for the best U23 players on each team, whether they’ve made the big leagues, or are in the pipeline.

The criteria is that a player must be 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025 to qualify.

On the elaborate list, there are six tiers. The top tier is made up of two players, Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard, who are labeled “elite NHL players.”

Tier 2 is considered an NHL All-Star, tier 3 a bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player, tier 4 a top of the lineup player, tier 5 a bubble top and middle of the lineup player, and tier 6 a middle of the lineup player.

Here’s where the Devils rank:

Tier 2:

5. Luke Hughes, D

Tier 4:

33. Anton Silayev, D

Tier 5:

55. Simon Nemec, D

75. Mikhail Yegorov, G

Tier 6:

98. Lenni Hameenaho, F

145. Seamus Casey, D

Here are the first four players, including Celebrini and Bedard, ranked before Luke Hughes.

Macklin Celebrini—SJS
Connor Bedard—CHI
Leo Carlsson—ANA
Adam Fantilli—CBJ

That’s some excellent company for Hughes to be in line with, and he even ranks ahead of first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer (ranked ninth), who was selected first overall to the New York Islanders this past June.

Pronman’s list consists of 173 U23 players. The Devils owning six on the list is actually decent considering their NHL status as playoff contenders.

At one time, it was clear as day that Dougie Hamilton was the Devils’ No.1 defenseman. However, that’s become less clear as the years have progressed. Fortunately, Luke Hughes’ trajectory is to be a star No.1 defenseman as Pronman writes in his tier list, and that could happen as soon as this season.

Add in a mix of a couple of projected top-four defenders, a projected starting goaltender, middle-six winger, and top-six blueliner, the Devils—who are already young at the NHL-level—have a healthy crop of U23 players moving forward.

For more Devils news, visit New Jersey Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.