Devils Rookies Open Rookie Showcase v. Isles | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS 

New Jersey prospects kick off their two-game Rookie Showcase against the Islanders as the home team at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET.

Read below for your game preview.

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THE SCOOP

It didn’t take long for the Devils rookies to shift from practice mode to game mode.

After just one day of practice, the Devils will welcome the Islanders to RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House on Sunday for the first of two Rookie Camp showcase games between the clubs. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m., with the game available to stream live on livestreamed on the Devils' official website.

For the rookies, it’s an opportunity to take everything they’ve worked on over the first day of camp and put it into game action and make a quick impression. With a mix of returning prospects, recent draft picks and players looking to make an impression, Sunday’s matchup will offer the first chance to see how the group comes together when the competition ramps up.

The Devils have just a single first-round pick on its roster with Anton Silaev making his debut. He was drafted 10th overall in 2024. The roster also has two second-round picks, both with NHL experience, Seamus Casey and Lenni Hämeenaho. The roster includes four fourth-round picks, three sixth rounders, one seventh and three free agent invites. 

For the Islanders, they boast three first-round picks, including two of their 2025 first rounders in Victor Eklund (16th overall) and Kashawn Aitcheson (17th overall). The Islanders have two second-round picks, two third and fourth round picks, a fifth and seventh round pick as well as several undrafted players as the makeup of their 25-man roster. 

The showcase game is one of two games the rookies will play this Rookie Camp, both against the Islanders. The Devils will visit the Isles on Tuesday.

PROSPECTS TO WATCH

Devils - Anton Silaev

Sunday marks the Rookie Camp debut of 2024 first-round pick defenseman Anton Silaev. The 20-year-old stands at 6-foot-7 and towers over his teammates, but perhaps what stands out most is how smoothly he moves for a player of his size.

Silaev's skating is a major part of his game. He covers a lot of ice and has the mobility to close gaps quickly. He has a long reach that can make life difficult for opposing forwards, and his size gives him plenty of upside as he starts to adjust to the North American game.

Silaev was paired with Seamus Casey during the club's practice on Saturday, and the two are expected to be paired together against the Islanders. It'll be an interesting first look at Silaev in a game setting and, for Devils fans, a chance to see what that combination of size, skating and puck-moving ability looks like against competition.

Islanders - Cole Eiserman

Eiserman is a 20-year-old forward with aspirations of making a push for a roster spot on the Islanders. He was selected 10 spots after Silaev, 20th overall in 2024, by New York.

He has a bit of AHL experience after finishing out his Boston University career, playing 12 games with Bridgeport last season. Eiserman owns a pretty wicked NHL-caliber shot and has always been known for his ability to score goals, putting up 72 goals in 58 games during his final season with the USNTDP.

He'll be looking to turn that scoring touch into an NHL opportunity this season, and with another year of development under his belt, he'll be one of the younger players in the Islanders' mix pushing for a spot.