A Calculated Move for the Franchise
New Jersey announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Anton Silayev, a 20-year-old Russian defenseman who has spent the past two seasons with Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. The contract, which is entry-level, will run for three years and is designed to provide depth on the blue line while the player continues his development abroad.
Silayev’s professional résumé includes 26 points earned over 187 KHL regular-season games, complemented by four assists in 19 playoff appearances. Last season he was selected to the KHL All-Star Game, a testament to his growing reputation, and he helped his club capture the VHL Championship in the 2024-25 postseason, posting a career-high 12 points during that run.
The Devils drafted Silayev with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, a move that underscores the team’s commitment to integrating international talent. General manager Sunny Mehta praised the player’s blend of size, skating and offensive upside, noting that the organization sees him as a key piece of the defensive core moving forward.
Coaching staff have indicated that Silayev will join the organization’s development program, with an eye toward eventually transitioning to North American ice. The move is viewed as part of a broader strategy to diversify the roster and tap into the rich talent pool emerging from the KHL.