Seamus Casey

October 2024 – Casey got his first taste of the NHL, where he immediately slotted in as a third-pair, second-power-play unit defenseman. In his few games, he showed clear and consistent high-end ability with the puck, using his pristine edge-work and elite ability to walk the blue line to create space for himself and his teammates. Defensive inconsistencies have been and will continue to be an area in which he needs work, but the offensive brilliance is on display on a nightly basis. With a bit more time logging heavier minutes in the AHL, he has the potential to turn into a top scoring defenseman. JP Gambatese

July 2024 – Casey has signed with the New Jersey Devils and will likely start the year with Utica of the AHL. The 5’10 defenseman dominated the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA, scoring seven goals and 45 points in 40 games for Michigan this past season, third in PTS among NCAA defensemen. Casey also showed significant growth in his defensive play, showcasing more maturity in IQ in puck battles and shutdown chances. A more undersized defenseman like Casey must be a very talented player to compensate for the lack of size. He’s seemingly meeting the challenge with his play for Michigan, but it’ll take playing in the pros for anything to feel definite. Austin Kelly

July 2022 – Casey was a tremendous pick-up for the Devils with their 46th-overall pick. The right-handed blue-liner both fits a need in the pipeline, and offers high upside for a second-rounder. Although he’s on the shorter side at 5-10, Casey’s skating, hands and high-end processing combine very well to help him manipulate opponents on breakouts and zone entries. He is committed to one of the best NCAA programs in U. of Michigan, and will look to work on his rush defending and in-zone involvement. Hadi Kalakeche

July 2022 – The New Jersey Devils have selected Casey in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 46th overall. Nick Richard

December 2021 – Casey was a stud for the U17 team last year, finishing as their highest-scoring defenceman with 36 points in 46 games. He has been equally as productive for the U18 squad so far this season and has done so without a prominent role on the powerplay, taking a backseat to Lane Hutson. His skating and puck-handling skills have been game-changers with the USNTDP so far and he has shown all the makings of an elite offensive blueliner. Nick Richard

October 2021 – Seamus Casey is now in his second year with the USNTDP and with six points in his first nine games with the U18 team, it appears he has picked up right where he left off last year where he racked up 36 points in 46 games for the U17 squad. Not known for his goal-scoring, most of Casey’s 42 points have come from his ability to pick out his teammates. Casey is currently playing on the first pair with Ryan Chesley, another potential first-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, and is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2023-24 season.

Casey is a very talented defenseman who brings a solid two-way game to the table and is capable of quarterbacking a powerplay. The first thing that you will notice about Casey when you watch him is his excellent skating ability. With his speed, quick first step, and very sharp edgework, Casey is undoubtedly one of the best skaters in this draft – possibly the best. His ability to stop on a dime and immediately generate speed in another direction is a big part of his game and he uses that to his advantage to shake off forecheckers in his own end to effectively exit the defensive zone and transition up the ice. He is a skilled puck handler and his agility allows him to navigate the neutral zone with ease as he keeps his head up to examine his passing options. Casey’s playmaking ability is high level. He squeezes crisp passes into tight windows and his ability to quickly and effectively move the puck is a trait that will have teams salivating. He is patient on the puck, his decision-making is mature and he will buy himself some time if he does not like what he sees initially. While he occasionally gets caught up ice from being a little overzealous offensively, his speed does afford him the opportunity to track back and make a play. Aside from his offensive capability, Casey is also an effective defender in his own end. Despite being listed at only 5-10 and 161 pounds, he is capable of playing a hard-nosed defensive game and forces players into puck battles along the boards, using his low center of gravity to wrestle pucks away from them. He shows an ability to read the developing play well and uses his quick first step to jump in to intercept the puck or use his stick to disrupt the attacking move. His ability to defend and break up plays while skating backwards towards his own zone is good and it prevents players from getting in behind him. He defends well in front of the net and reacts quickly to loose pucks to clear them from the goalmouth. There is a lot to like about what Casey brings to the table and while he is not the largest defenseman, there should be plenty of teams queuing up to select the right-handed rearguard on draft night. Alexander Annun