The unofficial start of the Devils’ preseason is here.

The team will send 27 players to the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo to compete in three games against other prospects from the Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Sabres, starting on Friday.

While the annual tournament always serves as an early look for Devils prospects who will be competing for roster spots in NHL training camp, this year’s tournament will give a glimpse at a few players who could have big impacts in New Jersey.

Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, will headline the roster, playing in his first competitive games in a Devils uniform.

Ty Smith, the team’s 2018 first-round pick, will also suit up for a second straight year, and 2017 second-round pick Jesper Boqvist will make his first appearance in the tournament.

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Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, Joey Anderson, Brandon Gignac and Colton White, who all got some NHL experience last season, will all participate.

Two players also made notable number changes prior to the start of the tournament. Anderson will wear No. 14, while White will wear No. 2. Expect both players to carry those numbers into training camp.

Here's the full roster for the Prospects Challenge:

2-Colton White, D

14-Joey Anderson, F

24-Ty Smith, D

31-Gilles Senn, G

33-Akira Schmid, G

41-Michael McLeod, F

42-Nathan Bastian, F

46-Blake Speers, F

50-Evan Cormier, G

51-Brandon Gignac, F

53-Yegor Sharangovich, F

57-Mitchell Hoelscher, F

59-Fabian Zetterlund, F

62-Xavier Bernard, D

67-Marian Studenic, F

70-Nikita Popugaev, F

71-Colby Sissons, D

73-Mikhail Maltsev, D

74-Ludvig Larson, F

75-Jeremy Groleau, D

78-Noah King, D

81-Michael Vukojevic, D

82-Nikita Okhotyuk, D

83-Nicholas Canade, D

86-Jack Hughes, F

90-Jesper Boqvist, F

92-Graeme Clarke, F

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.