The New Jersey Devils lost their first officially not official game of the 2026-27 season. In a prospects game against the New York Islanders, the Devils lost 5-4 in overtime. There were some standout performances, including exciting center prospect Matyas Melovsky, who scored two goals in less than a minute. Luke Wilfley gave fans hope that Sunny Mehta knew what he was doing at the 2026 NHL Draft.
However, the players who had Devils fans talking the most were Seamus Casey and Anton Silaev.
They were a pair for the entire game, and they played off each other really well. There were some kinks, especially in Silaev’s game, but the chemistry was real and spectacular. Silaev is clearly getting used to the North American style of game, but his skill set is impossible to miss. And it’s not just because he’s 6’7.
Silayev dominated with his skating this game. He could skate through players like he was Luke Hughes. He added good handles to his game, and even jumped into the play on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, Casey showed an ability to skate around defenders and make a play for himself. He was incredible at zone exits, and his first pass was almost always a beauty.
Both Casey and Silaev showed great skating ability, and this is especially good for Casey who is trying to put his injury-filled 2025-26 season behind him.
Seamus Casey and Anton Silaev appear to be the perfect pairing
Casey is probably the Devils' most interesting prospect in this tournament. He’s at about the age where many expect a prospect to graduate into full-time NHL duty, but that’s not really an option for him without an injury. The former Michigan standout has been good in the AHL, but many wanted a year of growth last season, and that just didn’t happen.
Going into training camp with a locked-in pair that they seem excited about might be just the thing to prove he’s NHL-ready.
But what about Silaev? If Casey is being lifted up by the former 10th-overall pick, could Silaev be NHL-ready as well?
The Devils have a conundrum on the defensive end, with too many older players with no-move and no-trade clauses on the roster. The Devils couldn’t conceivably allow both Silaev and Casey to make the team without an amazing showcase in a shortened training camp.
However, if what we saw on Sunday wasn’t just a one-time thing, Casey and Silaev should be a dominant force in the AHL. That’s exactly what a guy like Jakub Malek needs in front of him. The defense failed the Utica Comets last season, and Casey’s injury was a major reason for that. With him back and Silaev ready to put his KHL season behind him, they could grow together.
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