Devils pick Lavr Gashilov with 119th overall in 2026 NHL Draft after trading down with Blackhawks

The New Jersey Devils selected Lavr Gashilov with the 119th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, adding another prospect to a group they are building through the later stages of the draft. The pick came on Day 2, when New Jersey entered with a relatively small number of selections left to make.

According to the Devils’ draft board usage on Day 2, New Jersey came into the round with four picks remaining, with two of those choices located in the second round. Rather than keep every slot as originally scheduled, the Devils made a move that changed where they would pick next.

New Jersey moved back two spots, shifting from the 35th overall selection to the 37th overall selection, in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. That adjustment affected what pick New Jersey ended up with at the point where it selected Gashilov, tying the Gashilov selection to the earlier draft-slot exchange.

The Devils’ decision illustrates the basic trade-off many teams consider on draft weekend. Moving back can create value for a team if it believes the remaining players on its board will still be available later, or if it is balancing multiple needs across positions and development timelines.

For Gashilov, landing at 119th overall places him firmly in the “targeted development” range of the draft, where organizations often look for players who may need time to round out their game before becoming regular contributors at the NHL level. The Devils, as with any rebuilding or retooling project, can use later selections to add depth and create internal competition.

While specific background details such as league, position certainty, or projected role were not included in the published draft report that identified the pick, the mechanics of the selection are clear. New Jersey used the slot it acquired through its sequence of Day 2 decisions to secure Gashilov, rather than holding out for a different range of prospects.

Going forward, the key for Devils fans will be how the organization evaluates and develops its 2026 class over the next seasons. For Gashilov, that means establishing a professional track record at the appropriate level, while for New Jersey, it means continuing to align each selection with a broader system-building plan that spans immediate needs and long-term upside.