Seamus Casey

The Devils announced they’ve called up top defense prospect Seamus Casey from AHL Utica. No corresponding move was made, nor was one necessary. There aren’t any new injury designations on New Jersey’s blue line, so it’s likely a performance-driven recall.

Casey, 21, was a second-round pick by the Devils in 2022. He signed his entry-level contract last May following two seasons at the University of Michigan and, after a strong training camp last fall, found himself on New Jersey’s opening night roster while Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce were sidelined with season-opening injuries. He only lasted a couple of weeks, returning to the AHL in late October, and has remained with Utica since, aside from a second recall that stretched from Feb. 18 to March 7.

Now in his first professional season, Casey ranks as the No. 3 prospect in the Devils system, per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. Wheeler also ranks him as the No. 57 prospect in the league, 21st among defensemen and 13th among righties. McKeen’s Hockey ranked him No. 2 in their preseason rankings but didn’t deem Simon Nemec eligible as a prospect, while Wheeler did. Almost universally, Casey ranks behind Nemec and 2024 No. 10 overall pick Anton Silayev among New Jersey defenders who have yet to establish themselves as NHL regulars.

Casey has posted intriguing results in his limited NHL minutes this season. He’s scored four goals and added an assist in 10 games despite averaging under 12 minutes per game, adding a plus-five rating to boot. Head coach Sheldon Keefe’s distrust in him, shown in his earlier recalls, almost certainly stems from his poor possession impacts. Despite receiving 68.3% of his even-strength zone starts in offensive deployment, Casey has only controlled 41.6% of shot attempts.

In the minors, Casey has fared well this season but not quite as well as Nemec. He ranks third among Utica defensemen in scoring with 3-15–18 in 30 games, trailing Nemec (5-18–23 in 34 GP) and Topias Vilén (1-18–19 in 40 GP).

With only six regular-season games left on the Devils’ schedule and third place in the Metropolitan Division a virtual guarantee, it makes sense for them to give one of their top prospects one last NHL audition down the stretch. It’s hard to envision him being in the playoff lineup, especially with news earlier today that fellow righty Dougie Hamilton could be an option to return before or during the first round, but he could theoretically establish himself as a better option for a bottom-pairing puck-mover over Nemec, who holds the role for the time being.

10:52 a.m.: Casey’s ELC carries a cap hit of $950K, NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky reports.

9:03 a.m.: The Devils have signed 2022 second-round pick Seamus Casey to his three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday. The University of Michigan defender was their top unsigned defense prospect.

New Jersey general manager Tom Fitzgerald said last month that Casey was undecided about returning to the Wolverines for his junior season. Now, after his seven goals and 45 points in 40 games helped lead Michigan to the semifinals of the NCAA national championship, he’ll look to compete for a spot on the Devils’ blue line in 2024-25.

Casey, 20, was picked up by the Devils with the 46th overall pick in his draft year, just before the midpoint of the second round. It was a tad earlier than TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s polling of NHL scouts expected him to go (51st overall), but multiple public scouting services suggested he should’ve been off the board by then as a late first or very early second-round pick. So far, it looks like most teams’ scouting departments undervalued the right-shot defender. The Devils weren’t one of those teams – chief scout Mark Dennehy told NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky that they were surprised he was still available with their pick.

Now listed at 5’10” and 180 lbs, the Florida-born Casey has put on an inch and about 20 pounds of muscle in the last few years. It’s helped quell concerns about his size – easily the biggest reason why NHL scouts were cautious about selecting him – to some degree.

Drafted out of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Casey immediately made the jump to Michigan after being picked by the Devils and hasn’t at all looked out of place. He took home Big 10 All-Rookie Team honors last year, potting eight goals and 29 points with a +16 rating in 37 games to finish second behind future New Jersey teammate Luke Hughes in scoring among Michigan defensemen. He became the Wolverines’ top puck-moving option this season after Hughes left for the Devils and proved he was up to the task by finishing fifth on the team in scoring and third among all NCAA defensemen. Casey also suited up for the United States at the 2024 World Juniors, posting six assists in six games to lead the tournament in assists by defensemen en route to a gold medal.

Casey’s departure leaves a crater-sized gap on the Michigan blue line next season, although the addition of the offensively-minded Tim Lovell out of the transfer portal from Arizona State should help somewhat. An expert passer and shifty skater in transition, Casey is incredibly effective at helping his team exit one zone and gain the other but will likely struggle to box out opposing forwards and win puck battles in the early stages of his NHL career.

With the return of top defenseman Dougie Hamilton from a pectoral injury that cost him most of 2023-24, as well as 2022 second-overall pick Simon Nemec establishing himself as a full-time NHLer, it’ll be tough for Casey to land an everyday role on New Jersey’s blue line next season. Without a clear need for Casey in the NHL lineup immediately, it’s a tad confusing to see him opt to forego a third year of school. However, he’s a solid bet to rotate in and get a few games at the beginning of the season before logging big minutes with AHL Utica to adjust to the professional ranks. His ELC isn’t eligible to slide to next season, even if he plays fewer than 10 NHL games, and will make him a restricted free agent in 2027.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.