Torpedo defender Anton Silaev is highly likely to continue his career in the NHL.

      Defender of Nizhny Novgorod's "Torpedo" Anton Silaev is highly likely to continue his career in the NHL. As reported by the player's agent Alexey Dementyev in a conversation with TASS, the hockey player is close to signing a rookie contract with the New Jersey club.

      Recall that the 20-year-old Silaev was selected by New Jersey in the 2024 NHL Draft with the 10th overall pick. The current three-year contract of the 20-year-old defender with Torpedo expires on May 31.

      In the past KHL regular season, Silaev played 61 matches, scoring one goal and making two assists. In the playoffs, he played 10 games and recorded two assists. He also helped "Chaika" win bronze medals in the MHL.

      "There is a high probability that a contract with the NHL club 'New Jersey' will be signed. There are things that need to be done in a timely manner. And after signing a two-year contract in Russia, a completely different situation may arise in these two seasons in 'New Jersey'. At the moment, this club has a huge number of young promising hockey players, and the team is in a rebuilding phase," noted Dementyev.

      The agent emphasized that in such a situation, it is especially important to be among the players who will form the future core of the team, so he considers the move to the NHL a timely step.

      "At the moment, the contract is not signed, its terms are unknown, so it is too early to talk about that. But in any case, the mindset should always be on achieving the maximum result. One should not think that something will not work out. You have to act and become better—there is no other way in this life," he stressed, speaking about the possible terms of the agreement.

      Earlier, "Torpedo" offered the defender to extend the agreement. Silaev himself is currently considering his next steps and has not announced a final decision.

      If the hockey player decides to leave the KHL and head to North America, he will receive a mandatory qualifying offer, while the sports rights to the player in the KHL will remain with "Torpedo." NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.