Entry-level contract a first step for Anton Silayev
With Silayev under their roof, the Devils can begin to turn his trajectory around.
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The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Anton Silayev to a three-year entry-level contract on Monday afternoon.
Silayev was viewed as a potential top-5 pick in his draft year – Bob McKenzie had Silayev 5th on his final list, which is based on input from NHL scouts – but he slid to the Devils at 10.
Unfortunately, the slide didn’t stop on draft night.
Including playoffs, Silayev’s point total has dipped in back-to-back years since being selected.
The fall was significant this past season, with Silayev producing just five points over 71 games while playing a diminished role.
The decline in production has seen his star probability drop from more than 50% in his draft year to just 4%, according to JFresh’s NHLe model.
He may not have a high offensive ceiling, but I am still optimistic about his chances of becoming a useful NHL player.
He has a unique combination of size, speed, and agility that is very rare. If harnessed properly, he could turn into an excellent defender.
