The previous 151 days have been a whirlwind for 20-year-old Seamus Casey.
He signed his three-year, entry-level contract to start his skilled profession in Might. A number of months later, the defenseman appeared in his first Prospects Problem in September.
Now, in October, he’s in Prague, Czechia, because the Devils start the season, collaborating within the 2024 NHL International Collection.
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Forward of the Devils regular-season opener in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Casey will make his debut.
“We had plenty of defensemen in camp competing for a spot,” Keefe said. “There is not any handouts right here. He is earned it. With our accidents, we’ve got a chance accessible on our again finish, and he is given us purpose to imagine in him.
“It is thrilling as a coach to get plenty of these kind of moments. I am nonetheless the brand new man right here; I am not right here the day he is drafted, so I am certain there’s lots of people within the group who’re excited to see Seamus begin his professional profession.”
Casey was certainly one of 20 defensemen who made up the Devils’ coaching camp roster. Whereas he might have blended in over the primary couple of practices, he shined when given the chance to play in a preseason sport.
That first alternative was in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 24.
He performed a little bit over 20 minutes and was credited with one hit and one shot on objective.
“It was superior,” Casey mentioned. “I imply, it sucks to lose, could not be on the board, however it was a blast. Bell Centre was a extremely cool place to play the primary one. I assumed it was a extremely good sport. Couple powerful bounces on the finish, however course of felt good and only a ton of enjoyable.”
“I assumed he did properly,” Keefe said of Casey. “He performed with numerous confidence, along with his head up, and performed with intelligence. I used to be proud of the way in which that he performed right here at the moment, and good first sport for him.”
Casey was again within the lineup in opposition to the Washington Capitals the following night time. He completed with the second-most ice time amongst defensemen behind Dougie Hamilton and earned an help on Jack Hughes’ objective.
“He (is) an instance of a man who that is his first go round right here, and he’s getting higher and higher,” Keefe mentioned of the defenseman. “Clearly, I knew he was coming in and knew his talents and what he had completed in school, however it’s a complete totally different beast once you get out right here. As a coach, you watch, and also you’re studying. You’re on the lookout for guys to leap out at you and on the lookout for guys to proceed to make progress and enhance. He has performed that.”
The Miami, Florida native confirmed poise on the ice and wonderful positioning in each preseason video games. Regardless of his small stature, he has defensively been sturdy and was a vibrant spot in preseason.
“For those who needed to wager on it, you’d have mentioned he’d be going to Utica to begin the season and gaining beneficial expertise down there, however we’ve got alternative right here with the accidents that we’ve got, and he is carried out properly,” Keefe mentioned.
Casey told reporters that his mother and father could be touring to Prague with doubtlessly one or two of his siblings. Primarily based on the defensive pairs from the crew’s practices this week, the teenager will make up the third pair with Simon Nemec.
Puck drop between the Devils and Sabres is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. EST. on Friday (MSGSN, NHLN, MSG-B, SN).
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