Brett Pesce got injured during the game on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche, he ended up not returning after blocking a shot from Brent Burns with about 5:21 remaining in the first period.
It has already been confirmed by the Devils' head coach, Sheldon Keefe, that it is an upper-body injury. The fact that it was stated he will be missing at least a month rather than just a month alone is quite concerning.
With the unfortunate news about Brett Pesce, it's a matter of the next man up mentality
The next man up for New Jersey is defenseman Seamus Casey. The 21-year-old defenseman was recalled from Utica on Monday and will be making his season debut tonight against the Colorado Avalanche. Casey will play alongside Brenden Dillon as they are the third defensive pairing on the lines card.
Seamus Casey, the second-round pick of the 2022 draft, will have all eyes on him as Devils fans have been waiting for him to get consistent time on ice and hopefully end up a future star. This isn't Casey's first rodeo; he played 14 games last season and recorded eight points, four of which were goals of his own.
Casey is an offensive-minded defenseman who has a superb first touch of the puck, has tremendous puck skills, and looks comfortable moving the puck near the blue line. The ceiling is high for the young right-shot defenseman; this could be the time where he displays the elite player he could be going forward for the New Jersey Devils.
It won't be easy, given the fact that his first opponent will be a hungry Colorado Avalanche team that is coming off a loss to the Devils this past Sunday.