Get Your Devils Info on Draft Day 2 | NOTEBOOK

Check out the Notebook below for all your 2026 Draft coverage!

Trades

• The Devils moved the 35th overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the 37th overall pick and 119th from this year's draft (which is the Ottawa Senators' selection),
• New Jersey traded the 140th overall selection to the Colorado Avalanche for 149 and 222.

Devils Take Quinn McKenzie With Final Selection

With the 222nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Quinn McKenzie, a skilled forward from the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

McKenzie brings pace, offensive instincts, and a competitive edge to the Devils’ prospect pool. A right-shot forward who can play in the middle, McKenzie made the jump to the OHL this season and quickly became an important contributor for Soo.

McKenzie watched the draft with his family, waiting through the later rounds before hearing his name called by New Jersey.

“It was getting to the end there and just super grateful,” McKenzie said. “A lot of happy tears throughout our family, and excited to see what happens this week and excited for the future.”

After joining the Greyhounds from Shattuck-St. Mary’s, McKenzie produced 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 65 games. He finished third on the team in scoring, showing an ability to adjust quickly to major junior hockey and contribute consistently in his first OHL season.

Asked to describe his game, McKenzie pointed to his pace, detail, and competitiveness.

“I would say I’m a quick 200-foot centerman,” McKenzie said. “I like to be feisty and get in the other team’s face, and I want to make plays and make my linemates better.”

McKenzie’s game is built around skill, pace, and offensive awareness. He has the ability to play with speed, support the puck, and find open areas in the offensive zone. His production reflected a player who can both finish plays and create for others, giving him a balanced offensive profile.

As a seventh-round selection, McKenzie knows the work ahead is just beginning.

“It’s an honor to be picked in general,” McKenzie said. “Now that’s when the work starts. Whether I was a first rounder or a seventh rounder, I’m going to have to face the same battles, same obstacles.”

McKenzie is committed to Penn State, though he said he will return to the Soo Greyhounds before heading to college in 2027. He called Penn State his “dream school” and said he is excited for that next step when the opportunity comes.

His development focus is clear. McKenzie said he wants to continue getting stronger and become more dangerous as a shooter, with an emphasis on finishing chances and becoming a player opponents have to respect as a scoring threat.

McKenzie also pointed to Jack Hughes as the first player who comes to mind when he thinks of the Devils.

“I love watching his highlights and just his creativeness,” McKenzie said. “It makes me want to implement that into my game.”

Luke Wilfley goes 172nd

With the 172nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Luke Wilfley, a forward from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

Wilfley brings size, pace, and competitiveness to the Devils’ prospect pool. A Colorado native who played his draft season in Portland, Wilfley built his profile around a hard-working, direct style and the ability to impact the game with his skating, forecheck pressure, and physical engagement.

That physical identity is something Wilfley embraces.

“I think I have a bigger frame, and so it definitely gets me into the game, playing physically and getting in their faces,” Wilfley said. “If I have any opportunity to take an opponent off their game by using my game to my advantage, then I’m going to try to do that.”

In his first full WHL season with the Winterhawks, Wilfley appeared in 66 games, recording nine goals and 15 points while also playing with an edge. His production does not fully define his game, as much of his value comes from his ability to pressure opponents, finish checks, force turnovers, and bring energy to his line.

Wilfley said his time in Portland helped reinforce the patience and daily commitment needed to keep improving.

“It’s a long road,” Wilfley said. “You have to trust the process, and you have to earn everything.”

Wilfley’s game is built around pace and compete. He is at his best when he is moving his feet, getting in on the forecheck, and making life difficult for opposing defensemen. He has shown the ability to play a give-and-go style, attack off the rush, and use his frame to win pucks and extend plays.

When asked about an NHL player he models his game after, Wilfley pointed to Brady Tkachuk.

“I think he has the tendency to be in guys’ faces, play physical,” Wilfley said. “He also knows how to score goals, and I’m still obviously not there yet and still working to get there.”

There is also some offensive upside to continue developing. Wilfley has a heavy shot and can be effective when he gets into shooting areas, but the next step will be adding more consistency to his offensive game and turning his physical tools into more regular production.

Wilfley said he is focused on getting bigger, stronger, faster, and more detailed in his game, including learning how to put himself in better positions around the net and on the defensive side of the puck.

“I’m really working on trying to find myself in the right positions,” Wilfley said, “whether that be in front of the net or it’s backchecking and finding the stick lift and little details like that.”

Devils Grab a Goalie at 149

With the 149th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Daniil Rusakovich, a goaltender from Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk of the MHL.

A left-catching goaltender from Minsk, Belarus, Rusakovich has the frame teams look for in a modern goalie at 6-foot-4 and showed strong results during his draft season.

Playing for Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk, Rusakovich appeared in 20 games and posted a 1.94 goals-against average and .913 save percentage, along with two shutouts. Those numbers helped put him on the radar as one of the top international goaltenders available in the draft.

Rusakovich’s profile is built around size and upside. He has the physical tools to take away space in the net, and his performance in the MHL showed a young goalie capable of handling a meaningful workload and giving his team quality starts.

Gashilov Goes 119th Overall

With the 119th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Lavr Gashilov, a skilled center from Avto Yekaterinburg in Russia’s junior system.

Gashilov brings creativity, vision, and offensive instincts to the Devils’ prospect pool. A left-shot center from Perm, Russia, he has been one of the more productive players in the MHL and built his draft profile around his ability to create offense for both himself and his linemates.

This past season with Avto Yekaterinburg, Gashilov posted 16 goals and 53 assists for 69 points in 51 MHL games. His production reflected a player with strong puck skills, patience, and the ability to read plays as they develop. He is at his best when he has the puck on his stick, using deception and touch to find seams and create chances in the offensive zone.

Gashilov’s game is built around playmaking. He sees the ice well, can extend possessions, and has the confidence to make skilled plays through traffic. Rather than forcing offense, he shows an ability to manipulate defenders, wait for options to open, and deliver pucks into dangerous areas.

While most of his season came at the junior level, Gashilov also earned brief looks against older competition, appearing in both the VHL and KHL. Those opportunities offered a glimpse of the next step in his development as he continues to work toward a larger role in Russia’s pro system.

There are still areas of his game that will need to mature, particularly as he continues to round out his play away from the puck and adjust to the pace and physicality of higher levels. But his offensive toolkit, production, and ability to drive play with the puck make him an intriguing upside swing.

Devils Select Vanhanen 37th Overall

With the 37th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Matias Vanhanen, a skilled Finnish winger from the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.

Vanhanen brings high-end vision, playmaking touch, and a strong offensive feel to the Devils’ prospect pool. A left-shot forward from Nokia, Finland, Vanhanen made the move to North America this season and quickly became one of the WHL’s most productive first-year players.

Vanhanen was at his family’s lake house in Finland when he found out he had been selected by New Jersey.

“It’s such a special moment with my family,” Vanhanen said. “This feels unreal.”

After spending the 2024-25 season with HIFK’s U20 program in Finland, Vanhanen joined Everett and immediately became a major part of the Silvertips’ attack. He finished the regular season with 21 goals and 66 assists for 87 points in 62 games, setting a franchise rookie scoring record and leading the team in scoring. He added 12 goals and 24 points in 18 playoff games, ranking second on the Silvertips in their championship run.

For Vanhanen, the move to Everett was about challenging himself in a new environment.

“I think just play with the best guys in the league and play against the best in the world,” Vanhanen said. “I think that was the mindset for me.”

Vanhanen’s game is built around his hockey sense. He sees the ice extremely well, finds seams through traffic, and has the patience to wait for plays to open rather than forcing offense. He is especially dangerous as a passer, using quick touches, deception, and smart positioning to create chances for his linemates.

That playmaking ability took a major step forward this season.

“Just play confident,” Vanhanen said. “I trust my game and try to improve my game every day.”

While he entered the season with a pass-first reputation, Vanhanen also showed growth as a shooter. As the year progressed, he became more willing to attack the middle of the ice, trust his shot, and make himself a dual threat. That evolution made him harder to defend and helped drive his strong second half and postseason production.

Vanhanen brings experience from his long playoff run with Everett, including a trip to the Memorial Cup. He called it “real playoff hockey” and said the grind of playing so many meaningful games in a short window suited him.

“I enjoy playing a lot,” Vanhanen said. “In the NHL, you got 82 games plus playoffs, so I’m ready for it.”

Vanhanen was passed over in his first year of draft eligibility, but he used that disappointment as fuel.

“It did a lot,” Vanhanen said. “Made me work harder, and then just had the mindset, I’m going to show everyone that I’m a good player.”

Devils Take Shcherbakov 44th Overall

With the 44th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Nikita Shcherbakov, a big, mobile defenseman from Russia with the tools to develop into a dependable two-way presence on the blue line.

Standing 6-foot-5 and skating exceptionally well for his size, Shcherbakov combines reach, mobility, and defensive awareness in a package that is difficult to find. He spent the season playing against both professional and junior competition in Russia, continuing to round out a game built on poise, positioning, and efficient puck movement.

Shcherbakov's greatest strength is his defensive foundation. He uses his long reach to disrupt plays, closes gaps effectively, and consistently takes away time and space from opposing forwards. His skating allows him to defend off the rush, recover quickly, and maintain strong positioning without relying solely on his size.

While his offensive numbers don't immediately jump off the page with four goals and 10 points in 35 games with Toros Neftekamsk of the VHL and 10 assists in 15 games for Tolpar Ufa of the Russian Junior League, there is encouraging upside with the puck. He makes clean first passes, escapes pressure with composure, and shows the ability to move play up ice without forcing high-risk decisions. As he continues to gain confidence and experience, there is room for his offensive game to grow alongside his already polished defensive habits.

His development path has also included valuable experience against older competition as he also played seven games for Salavat of the KHL. This has helped accelerate his decision-making and preparing him for the physical demands of professional hockey. With additional strength and continued ice time, he projects as a defenseman capable of handling difficult matchups while contributing in transition.

Shcherbakov gives the Devils another high-upside piece on the back end. His combination of size, skating, and defensive intelligence provides an excellent foundation, and with continued development, he has the tools to become a reliable top-four NHL defenseman who can impact the game in all situations.

Draft Day 1 Recap

Devils Take Command 12th Overall

With the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Alexander Command, a competitive, two-way center from Örebro HK in Sweden.

Command brings a mature, well-rounded game built on hockey sense, pace, and detail. A left-shot center with good size, he has earned attention as one of Sweden’s top draft-eligible forwards thanks to his ability to impact play in all three zones.

For Command, the moment was still sinking in after hearing his name called.

“I was just surprised and happy,” Command said. “Emotions all over the place. Grateful for the people who helped me there and I’m just getting started.”

Command spent the season with Örebro HK U20, where he led the team offensively with 17 goals and 44 points in 30 games. He also earned a taste of pro hockey, making his SHL debut with Örebro’s senior team. That combination of production at the junior level and exposure to professional competition speaks to both his current ability and his long-term upside.

Asked to describe his own game, Command kept it simple.

“Just hardworking, two-way center, 200-foot game,” he said. “Likes to compete. Plays with, I’d say, a little bit of a chip on the shoulder and pretty physical.”

That identity shows up throughout his game. Command is effective below the dots, strong along the wall, and willing to engage physically to win back possession. He reads the ice well, supports the puck in all three zones, and can be trusted to play responsible minutes while still helping drive offense.

His competitive edge is a major part of his profile.

“I think it’s pretty much built into the core,” Command said. “For me, it comes natural. I just want to win.”

Command also pointed to Patrice Bergeron and Sidney Crosby as two players he watched growing up, with Bergeron’s two-way game standing out in particular. He said he tried to “mimic his two-way game and be the winner he is.”

There is also a natural connection to the Devils’ current group. Command said he likes the comparison to Nico Hischier, another two-way center who plays with pace, detail, and responsibility.

“Love that comparable,” Command said. “From my point of view, we kind of have the same style also, in part how we skate and just how we play the game.”

Command also delivered on the international stage, helping Sweden win gold at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He finished the tournament with seven points in seven games and played an important role for a Swedish team that grew stronger as the tournament went on.

With his size, compete level, two-way habits, and offensive upside, Command gives the Devils a center prospect with a strong foundation and a clear development path. As he continues to grow in Sweden, he has the tools to become a dependable, impactful NHL forward.

His message to Devils fans was direct.

“You made a good choice,” Command said. “I’m happy to be here.”