Devils Draft Nikita Shcherbakov 44th Overall

With the 44th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils have selected Nikita Shcherbakov from the Toros Neftekmask of the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL).

About Nikita Shcherbakov

Nikita Shcherbakov is a 6-foot-5, 187-pound left-shot defenseman from Chelyabinsk, Russia. He has emerged as one of the more intriguing blue-line prospects in this year’s draft class due to his combination of size, skating ability and long-term upside.

He spent the 2025-26 season playing with the Toros Neftekamsk in the VHL. He recorded 10 points in 35 games while competing against some of the league’s more experienced players.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“With his size and mobility, Nikita Shcherbakov impressed this season. He also showed unusual composure for such a young player playing a professional game. The Chelyabinsk native made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season, playing seven games for Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Shcherbakov made an impact in just a couple of contests, but he didn’t look out of place, proving that he can play in a more demanding environment at a higher pace.

Nevertheless, the big-framed defenseman spent most of the season with Toros Neftekamsk, Salavat Yulaev’s affiliate in the Russian second league, where he showed composure, great mobility, and a high level of maturity, even scoring a hat-trick in February, setting a league record for such a young blueliner.

That said, it’s hard to imagine Shcherbakov as a defenseman who will be scoring hat-tricks in the NHL. He remains a defensive-minded player who makes great use of his mobility to anticipate plays in the defensive zone, avoid opposition players flying past the defense, and make fast changes of possession with his excellent skating and first touch.”

Continue reading his full player profile here.

What This Means for the Devils

Drafting Shcherbakov gives the Devils another injection of high-end skill and offensive upside at a time when the organization is looking to replenish its prospect pipeline. New Jersey’s NHL roster is already built around elite talent like Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, but adding another dynamic forward prospect ensures the club continues building toward sustained success rather than simply relying on the current core.

Shcherbakov will give the Devils another potential difference maker on the wing, something the organization has been looking to add to the system. If his offensive instincts and skill are able to transfer to the NHL, he could become the type of secondary scorer that thrives in the Devils’ middle six.