Anton Silayev
Anton Silayev | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 11, 2006 Sarov, Russia |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey defenceman |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Known for | Playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL; selected tenth overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft |
Anton Silayev (; born 11 April 2006) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected tenth overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Silayev started skating and playing ice hockey at the age of four, transitioning to the defensive position by eight years old due to his physical stature. In 2017, he became part of the development system for the KHL team Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod based in Nizhny Novgorod.
In the 2022–23 season, competing in the Russian MHL, Silayev tallied eight points over 41 games while playing primarily as a first- and second-pair defenceman, helping his team secure the league championship.
Following his participation in the 2023 MHL training camp, Silayev earned promotion to Torpedo’s KHL squad for the preseason and successfully claimed a spot on the roster for the 2023–24 KHL season. Making his KHL debut at just 17 years old, he logged close to 20 minutes of ice time, demonstrating considerable confidence from head coach Igor Larionov. Silayev made history by becoming Torpedo’s youngest player to score a goal, netting his first against Ak Bars Kazan. By the end of September, he had accumulated one goal and six points across 12 games, averaging more than 17 minutes per match and receiving recognition as rookie of the month.
Although his scoring rate tapered off as the season progressed, Silayev completed the campaign with 11 points in 63 appearances. He set new KHL records for points by players under 18, points by under-19 defencemen, and games played by under-18 defencemen. Leading Torpedo with 98 hits on the season, he was also nominated for KHL rookie of the year honors. In five playoff contests, he contributed two assists before Torpedo was eliminated in the opening round. Subsequently reassigned to Chaika, he added three assists in ten games during their semifinal push. After this successful season, Silayev was chosen tenth overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2022–23 | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod | MHL | 41 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 29 | ||
| 2023–24 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 63 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2023–24 | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod | MHL | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | ||
| 2024–25 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 63 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| KHL totals | 126 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 47 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||||