2025-26 Expectations with Devils Finally Signing Top Forward Prospect
Hockey in New Jersey may have come to an end, but there’s still plenty to look forward to next season. Over the course of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Devils have battled despite injuries and pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to five games before being eliminated, with some much-needed experience gained. With a healthy roster returning for next season, fans have much to look forward to, as this is only the beginning. The firepower of this team will now increase as New Jersey has signed their top prospect at long last. Just today, New Jersey has signed top forward prospect Arseni Gritsyuk to a one-year, entry-level contract, which will kick off at the start of the 2025-26 season.
For the previous five seasons, Gritsyuk played in the Kontinental Hockey League for Avangard Omsk and SKA St. Petersburg. Drafted 129th overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the 24-year-old prospect has proven to be a threat offensively. With firepower coming from Gritsyuk as well as players like Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, this offense will only get more lethal. During the 2024-25 season with St. Petersburg, Gritsyuk accumulated 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 49 games, career highs in both stats. Coming in with these stats, Gritsyuk also holds quite a few achievements during his time in the KHL. Named top KHL rookie, a Gagarin Cup in the KHL Playoffs, as well as earning a silver medal with Russia in the Winter Olympics, it’s clear Gritsyuk deserves his spot in the NHL.
A long time coming indeed, as general manager Tom Fitzgerald has been trying to get the forward prospect under contract. Terms of the deal have not yet been released, but are expected to be made public soon. Though it's not automatic for him to be on the Devils, younger players have recently skipped the AHL in the past, leaving fans hopeful the forward prospect will have his ice time this coming fall. No doubt Gritsyuk will be out there with players like Tomáš Tatar, Erik Haula, and Paul Cotter, trying to get the middle-six going with depth scoring. With being such an offensive threat in the KHL, New Jersey fans have plenty more to look forward to for next season. Gritsyuk is fully expected to be at training camp this fall and will compete for a spot in the NHL, with the hope that fans will find him on the roster and ready to help New Jersey get right back into the playoffs.
