Devils Notebook: Islanders Scrimmage & Rookie Camp Practice

The ice is back in the Prudential Center, meaning hockey season is back! With the start of the hockey season, we’ll be introducing the return of the New Jersey Devils notebook. Here, we will discuss everything from practices to games and everything in between.

For this offseason edition of the Devils notebook, let’s discuss how rookie camp has been going.

Pros and Cons From Devils’ Rookie Scrimmage

Rookie camp kicked off on Friday, Sep. 11. The 25 players had their first practice, with some of these guys playing on the same team together for the first time. After a second practice, the Devils hosted the New York Islanders rookies for a scrimmage match at their training facility, the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House.

This was a great chance for these rookies to show Devils management what they are capable of. There were both pros and cons from the Devils’ rookie’s performance in this game.

Pro: Silaev Played Like It Was a Real Game

One of the biggest names to keep an eye on during this Devils rookie camp was Anton Silaev. The 6’7″ Russian defenseman is playing for the Devils organization for the first time this season. He was drafted by New Jersey 10th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Silaev spent the past two seasons honing his skills in Russia, but now he is ready to have an impact on the NHL team that believed in him.

Despite the fact that this scrimmage wasn’t a real game, you would have a hard time telling Silaev that. He played like it was the real deal, and in the first period, he laid a huge hit behind the goal line on Islanders rookie Tomas Poletin. He appeared shaken, but Poletin got back up on his own accord.

After his first game, Silaev stated, “In my first American game, big emotion. Pre-game, I’m big stress and first shift, physical body…no stress and good game.” Silaev’s play style is physical, and it was made clear in his first game with the Devils. Even though it wasn’t a regular season game with actual stakes, Silaev made it clear from the beginning he is serious about the hockey he is playing.

Pro: Melovsky with Back-to-Back Goals

In the showcase, the Devils were down two goals in the middle of the third period. Matyas Melovsky took a shot and tied the game. He quickly answered with another goal to give the Devils the lead.

The entire game was a great demonstration of Melovsky’s play style. He was quick with the puck and showed great scoring chances, evidenced by his two quick back-to-back goals.

Before the end of the 2025-26 season, the Devils signed Melovsky to a two-year, entry-level contract. It’s all going to depend on his training camp performance, but if he doesn’t make the opening night roster, there’s a good chance Melovsky at least gets called up to the NHL before the end of 2026-27.

Con: Devils Rookies Lose in OT

Unfortunately, the Devils fell 5-4 in overtime to the Islanders. Even though the game had no stakes, the Devils rookies certainly wanted to win. Although this game resulted in a loss, there were still great moments throughout the scrimmage.

The Devils showed a high level of compete and battled back to a point where they were capable of taking the win. The Islanders just got the best of them.

Rookies Showing They Want a Chance

Each and every player who made it to rookie camp has proven just how much they want to show their skills to the Devils. They are all competing at the highest level they can and doing it with extreme skill.

All of these players want an invite to the Devils’ official training camp and are working hard to get to that point. For most of these players, they are aware that they will spend time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets. However, that doesn’t mean they need to stop playing at a high level. This rookie camp is also a chance for these players to show what they are capable of, in the event a call-up to the NHL is necessary.

Seamus Casey has been with the Comets for two seasons now and has been called up to the Devils both times. He knows the rookie camp is a chance to show his skills before the season starts and make sure the coaching staff and management are aware of their capabilities on the ice.