New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 3/12/19

The 22nd week of the 2018-19 prospect update is here. It’s highlighted by the Jocktan Chainey’s return to Halifax’s lineup after missing 29 games in the QMJHL, Jeremy Davies continue to produce for Northeastern in the NCAA, Akira Schmid grab the USHL SV% lead, and Jesper Boqvist turning into a shot machine.

QMJHL

After missing 29 straight games after suffering an upper body injury on 12/28/18, Jocktan Chainey has made his return to the Mooseheads lineup! He’s been eased back into the lineup in a 3rd pairing role and was a -1 with 4 shots in 2 games last week. Halifax has 3 regular season games remaining and will close out against Charlottetown on Saturday. Apparently that game will air on NHL Network at 3:30 PM ET.

Xavier Bernard had an assist, even rating, 2 PIM, and 10 shots across 3 games last week. Charlottetown has 3 regular season games remaining, closing it out with the aforementioned match against Halifax on Saturday.

Jeremy Groleau missed all 3 of Chicoutimi’s games this past week after suffering a shoulder on 2/24. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Chicoutimi has 3 regular season games left.

OHL

Mitchell Hoelscher had an assist, +2, 3 shots, and won 58.97% of his faceoffs across 3 games last week. Ottawa has 3 regular season games remaining.

WHL

Ty Smith had a goal, PP assist, even rating, 2 PIM, and 8 shots over 3 games last week. Spokane wraps up their regular season with 4 games this upcoming week.

NCAA

Jeremy Davies helped Northeastern wrap up their regular season with a victory over New Hampshire on Friday. In that game he had an assist, +1, and 2 PIM. Davies was also named National Player of the Month by the Hockey Commissioners Association for the month of February. Northeastern is the #3 seed in the Hockey East Tournament and will take on #6 Maine in the Quarterfinals this upcoming weekend.

Reilly Walsh and Harvard had the week off after clinching an automatic spot in the ECAC Quarterfinals as the #4 seed. They will take on #5 Dartmouth this weekend after Dartmouth knocked out #12 St. Lawrence in the First Round.

Matt Hellickson had an even rating and 2 shots as #2 Notre Dame knocked out #7 Michigan State in 2 games in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. They will take on #3 Minnesota in the Semifinals on Saturday. According to Notre Dame’s website, this game should be broadcast on the Big Ten Network at 7 PM ET.

Aarne Talvitie is out for the rest of the season due to knee surgery.

USHL/NAHL

Akira Schmid continued his excellent play for Omaha in the USHL. On Friday he earned a 37 save shutout victory over Fargo. On Saturday he made 37 saves on 39 shots in another victory over Fargo. He now stands alone in 1st place in SV% in the USHL with a .931 mark. Over his last 20 games (15 starts) he has a .945 SV% and 12 Quality Starts dating back to 11/24/18. Corey Masisak’s latest prospect focused article at The Athletic takes a look at the wild, resilient season Schmid has been having after a rough start to his North American journey.

Russia

KHL

VHL

MHL

Mikhail Maltsev had an assist, even rating, 2 PIM, 3 shots, and won 8/9 faceoffs while averaging over 8 minutes per game across the final 2 games of #2 SKA’s Western Conference Quarterfinal series against #7 Spartak Moscow. SKA won the series 4-2 and will take on #3 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Semifinals. Maltsev currently has no goals, an assist, -1, 4 PIM, 8 shots, 74.4 FO%, and 9:24 ATOI through 5 playoff games.

Yegor Zaitsev had a goal, +2, 2 PIM, 2 shots, and averaged over 10 minutes per game across the final 2 games of #5 Dynamo Moscow’s Western Conference Quarterfinal series against #4 Jokerit. Dynamo won the series 4-2 and will play #1 CSKA Moscow in the Semifinals. Zaitsev currently has a goal, no assists, -1, 2 PIM, 4 shots, and 13:03 ATOI through 6 playoff games.

Sweden & Finland

Jesper Boqvist had 2 assists (1 EV, 1 PP), +1, 18 shots, and averaged 19:11 per game across 3 games last week. His team has 2 regular season games remaining before the playoffs and they currently occupy the final spot.

Fabian Zetterlund is out for the season due to knee surgery.

Eetu Pakkila had an assist, +1, 7 shots, and played 17:35 in his only game action last week.

Switzerland

It appears that Gilles Senn and HC Davos will take on SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in the Playout Final. The best of 7 series is set to begin on 3/26 and potentially last until 4/9. I believe the loser will go on to the League Qualification series to try to fight off relegation.

Your Take

Which prospects stood out to you this week? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!