By now, we all know Silayev is a massive, proven shutdown player who skates like he’s 5’10”. Scouts have him as one of the top skaters in the draft who’s not afraid to line up guys for big open ice hits. He also played some PP1, which is quite unheard of for 17/18 year olds in the KHL. We all also know that Silayev broke the all-time scoring record for any u18 player (not just defensemen), passing Tarasenko’s record set a decade ago. But here’s where it gets interesting…
Silayev is a raw prospect. A lot of his tools and mechanics are seen as being in their early stages of development. A lot of NHL teams like these types of prospects because it means there’s more space for their development teams to exert their influence on them and reach much higher ceilings than a player who’s already stuck in their ways. The Devils have a proven track record with dealing with players in similar conditions – see Mukhamadullin’s progression (who’s about to have a huge year for SJ) and Gritsyuk who came out of the 5th round and turned into a top KHL scorer. Silayev is different though. Silayev has been taken under the wing of none other than The Professor, Igor Larionov. Now a coach, Larionov is truly the best in the business when it comes to caring for his young players. Silayev’s skating strides are some of the most technically perfect form in the draft and that’s no accident. Silayev and Larionov, in conjunction with the Devils development team, will have two years to focus on his weaknesses.
2 Years Left on his KHL Contract
Some may glance at this and perceive it as a negative. I believe it’s the exact opposite. In 2 years, L. Hughes will be signed to his extension, Nemec will be due an extension that summer, Mercer will have his extension, then you already have the J. Hughes, Meier, Bratt, and Hamilton contracts, plus one more year of Hischier at 7.25m before he too needs an extension. The cap will be tight, BUT Silayev being a delayed KHL prospect won’t begin his entry-level context (ELC) until he comes over in two years. That will provide a ton of flexibility cap-wise and help the Devils manage their stars. Meanwhile, Silayev will have spent 2 years in the 2nd best league in the world as a team’s #1 defenseman. He will be ready to make an immediate impact, much like Nikishin will for Carolina in a year or so. This timeline is perfect for creating a true dynasty in NJ.
I may be biased, but for these real reasons, I think this pick was a home run.
by Comrade_Bean_Juice
4 Comments
Well written and I hope you’re right. Has he said he wants to come to North America just yet?
I agree 100% with everything you’ve said.
Anyone doubting this pick has no idea how good this kid is and can be.
Also most people on here can’t grasp the fact that this kid is playing high level hockey at only 17 in an ELITE pro league – KHL. Next to the NHL it’s the best league in the world.
If Silayev was in the OHL or NCAA right now (where most of the draft picks are) he would be so dominant it would look downright unfair.
https://preview.redd.it/posgoub6yf9d1.jpeg?width=946&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a4e274af4afe387ad5c233afd1ed7dc73353ef2
^ Silayev is going to be a stud for the Devils.
What I see people mostly complaining about is that the 2 year contract is preventing him from coming over immediately, and I believe that’s a ridiculous thing to worry about. You can’t expect a tenth overall pick to immediately make it to the NHL. That’s an expectation reserved for the top 3 picks, and even then it’s not a bad thing if they spend another year or two in another league. Hughes and Nemec literally just made it to the NHL; let them perfect their game first before bringing up more defensive prospects. Seamus Casey is likely the next one to make it, and there will be an adjustment period for him, too. Fitzgerald likely views Anton Silayev as the final piece to the killer home built defense core that he’s been building, and when he arrives 2-3 years later, it will (hopefully) be when the Devils’ Stanley Cup contention window is wide open.