2024 AATJ Top 25 Devils Under 25: Second batch of 5 players revealed, ranked 16-20

The 2024 AATJ Top 25 Under 25 selection process is in full swing. Last week, we announced the Bottom fiveBarely qualified, and outsiderwho failed to make this year’s list. This week we’ll reveal the next five. This group has two debutants, a goalie signed midseason, a forward acquired in a trade with Minnesota, a player who fell slightly last year, and two rising players who were in the bottom five last summer. Let’s take a look at where everyone ranks.

#20 – Isaac Poulter – G – Age: 22 – 2023-24 Team: Utica Comets (AHL) – 2023 Rank: 23 Elite Outlook Overview

Goalie Isaac Poulter made his debut on the list in the community decider, ranking 20th. February 13 This year, I expressed my opinion in these pages whether it was Poulter’s time and concluded that Utica’s best goalie deserved an NHL contract. Two days later, on February 15, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald did the same. Signing a goalkeeper Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract.

As I wrote that article, Poulter’s new contract was all but inevitable. In a year of poor goaltending at both the Devils/Comets levels, Isaac Poulter shined with a 17-8-1 record, four shutouts with a 2.55 GAA, and a .911 save percentage, tying him for 16th in the AHL with goaltending phenom Jaroslav Askarov and others. No other Comets goalie (except Jeremy Brodeur, who played in just one game) had a save percentage above .900, with Akira Schmid beating Nico Daws for second on the team at .894 to .890, and Eric Carlgren falling to last at a dismal .872.

With Akira Schmid leaving the team in exchange for Paul Cotter to the Golden Knights, Issac Poulter should once again be playing alongside Nico Daws in the upcoming season. While Daws has earned a call-up and is clearly the No. 3 goalie in the system this season, Poulter was the better goalie at the AHL level all of last year. With Tyler Brennan also joining the team, it will be interesting to see how things look in the AHL net in 2024-25.

#19 – Adam Beckman – W/C – Age: 23 – 2023-24 Team: Iowa State/Minnesota Wild (AHL/NHL) – 2023 Rank: N/A Elite Prospect Profiles

Adam Beckman, a 6-foot-2 center/winger who was selected in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, makes his first appearance on this list after being transferred from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Graeme Clark. Devils fans may not be familiar with Beckman, as although he was briefly called up to the Wild over the past three seasons, he has spent the majority of his time playing for another Wild team – Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. Last season, Beckman played in 51 games for the Iowa Wild and scored 19 goals and 33 points, matching his 24 goals and 36 points in 53 games the season before. It’s worth noting that despite playing fewer games in the minors as he spent the majority of this season in the majors, his 19 goals were actually a point total for his lowly team.

At the NHL level, Beckman has been mediocre, with just three points (all assists) and an average of 10:02 minutes of playing time in 23 NHL games over three seasons. The one thing Beckman is best at, at least at the AHL level, is shooting. Two years ago, his shot total was AHL Top 20 Although he played in just 53 games due to his NHL call-up. While Beckman’s shot totals have dropped over the past year, that may have more to do with the transfer of several of his top teammates to the Wild last season (including midfielder Marco Rossi) than any setbacks Beckman experienced in his game.

For whatever reason, Beckman doesn’t seem to fit the Wild’s plans, just like Graeme Clark doesn’t seem to fit the Devils’ designs. In that sense, this trade makes sense for both parties. Minnesota seems to need to add more right-handed shot-makers to their system, and Beckman is known for his speed and shot-first mentality, a combination that, at least in theory, fits well with the Devils’ previous game plan. Of course, Beckman’s spot on the team is far from guaranteed. With NHL rosters crowded, the speedy winger will have to fight to earn a spot in New Jersey’s lineup. We wish him the best of luck.

#18 – Daniel Misur – LD – Age: 23 – 2022-23 Team: Utica Comets (AHL – 2023 Rank: 24 Elite Prospect Profiles

Moving up our list to No. 18, defenseman Daniel Misur jumps into the top 25 for the first time after signing an ELC contract with the Devils last season. Overall, Misur seems to be having a fruitful time in the North American game. The hard-hitting defenseman had four goals and 14 points in 44 games last year, double his seven points (all assists) from last season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Of course, Misur is better known for his physicality around the goal and his ability to close gaps than his scoring — a defensive style that the Devils brass seems to favor more recently.

Misur was indeed briefly called up during a particularly turbulent period for the Devils last season, but did not play in any NHL games. The tough Russian defenseman will make his NHL debut sometime this year. With a crowded blue line, it is likely that someone else will be called up before him, and Misur will have to perform well in training camp and in Utica to earn that opportunity.

#17 – Cam Squires – WR – Age: 19 – 2023-24 Team: Brittany Horns Eagles (QMJHL) – 2023 Rank: 23 Elite Prospect Profiles

Another riser, Cam Squires, climbs to #17 on our list. One look at the numbers and it’s easy to see why. The rise is well deserved.

squire Signed his ELC This summer, Squires had another stellar season in Cape Breton, setting career highs in goals (33) and points (72). Squires led the team in scoring and contributed one-third of Cape Breton’s total goals this season (72/216). Off the field, Squires earned a Quebec Major League Hockey degree. Humanitarian of the Year Honors in recognition of his work in the local community. In 2023, to paraphrase a famous line from The Simpsons, it all happened to Squires.

Squires has dominated the team for two seasons. In his draft year, Squires impressively contributed 13.39% of Cape Breton’s goals and added another 6 points in four playoff games. Last season, Squires further improved this amazing scoring rate, contributing 15.28% of the team’s goals. In the playoffs, Squires shined, scoring 20 points in 14 games, ranking fourth in points per game and sixth in total points among Canadian junior players who played in at least 10 playoff games.

Is it too early to say the Devils stole the show in the fourth round when they selected Squires at No. 122 in 2023? Maybe, but I’m not the only one who thinks so suggestion It’s a possibility. While Squires is a winger rather than a center, he reminds me of Adam Henrique at the same age in terms of his hockey IQ, high-level competition, leadership, and ability to show up in big games. Of course, to get to that level, Squires will need to work more on both ends of the floor, something he’s been working to improve on since being drafted. Squires carried the load for Cape Brayton throughout the regular season and playoffs last year. It will be interesting to see how the young winger develops this season, but the future looks bright.

#16 – Topias Viren – LD – Age: 21 – 2023-24 Team: Utica Comets (AHL) – 2023 Rank: 14 Elite Prospect Profiles

Dropping two spots from last year’s list to No. 16 is left guard Topias Viren. Drafted for his defensive prowess, Viren shined in the 2022-23 season with the Lahti Pelicans of the Western Conference, posting career-highs of nine goals and 17 points in 41 games. Last season, after coming to North America as an ELC, Viren proved his offense was no fluke, posting 29 points in 54 games for the Comets and dominating the ECHL with 10 points in six games during a brief stint with the Adirondack Thunder.

Most importantly, after the “hit-and-miss” start, Dober ProspectVillen seemed to improve as the season progressed. Villen has the speed and hockey IQ to play at the highest level, but Villen himself admitted Recent Interviews He needs to get stronger and more physical to play in the NHL. The former 2021 fifth-round (129th overall) draft pick is a long-term project, but he’s expected to be a mid- to bottom-level defenseman if his development stays on track. This year, with other more experienced left-back options available for call-up, Villen will likely benefit from another season of growth at the AHL level.

Ranking

Here’s how you rank these players:

AATJ Writers and Community

As mentioned above last weekthe community broke the tie between Ethan Edwards and Isaac Poulter, placing the debuting goalie in the top twenty. Isaac Poulter and Adam Beckman both had very different rankings, with a high of 15 and lows of 38 and 39. The difference between Misur (18th) and Edwards (21st) averaged less than a point, so all of these players were considered very close to the same level by the rankers. Further up the list, the gaps widened a bit, with Squires averaging a full point higher than Misur, while Villen averaged about 1.7 points higher than Squires and less than half a point behind the No. 15 player who will be announced next week. It is worth noting that Cam Squires was the lowest ranked player in the top 25 by all writers and the community consensus. This was not the case for the No. 15 player on this year’s list, who ranked No. 27 on a single ballot.

Your opinion

Any thoughts on this week’s list, good or at least interestingly bad? Want to share your rankings with everyone? Want to talk about the overall outlook? Want to complain that none of these players will be as good as Sluggo McSlappyfists or whoever you personally think the Devils should have drafted X years ago? Whatever, leave your comments below.