3 New Jersey Devils Prospects Lighting Up Their Playoffs

With the playoffs officially out of the question for the New Jersey Devils this season, it's time to look toward the future. The Devils don't boast an elite prospect pool like they had a few years ago, but they still do have a few gems. Seamus Casey and Arseni Gritsyuk sit atop most Devils prospect rankings.

There are, however, a few other standouts who have put on quite the performance in their team's respected playoffs. If the NHL group won't make any noise in the postseason, it's at least nice to know that some of their prospects are. The aforementioned Casey, as well as fellow Michigan Wolverine and Devils defensive prospect Ethan Edwards, are both getting ready for this weekend's NCAA Frozen Four and a chance for redemption after losing Quinnipiac last season.

However, neither of them is putting up the numbers like the three prospects that we'll talk about here. They are worth mentioning because we may see Casey (and possibly Edwards) in Devils sweaters sooner rather than later. But for now, we are taking a look in both Finland and Canada to find Devils prospects who are lighting it up.

Lenni Hämeenaho - Assat U20 - U20 SM-sarja

The Devils second-round pick in 2023, Lenni Hämeenaho has had a very productive and promising Draft +1 year. He played all regular season with the Assat in Liiga, the top league in Finland. In 46 games he put up 14 goals and 17 assists, scoring 10 more points in five fewer games compared to his 2022 season.

Hämeenaho was also part of the Finnish team that played in the Bronze medal game at the World Junior Championships. In seven games at the tournament, he scored four goals and added two assists as Finland fell just short of medaling. What he has shown he can do is produce at every single level he plays at.

After his Liiga season came to an end, Hämeenaho was sent down to the Under-20 league in Finland, where he plays for Assat U20. Predictably, the Finnish U20 league is child's play for him. It comes as no surprise, given his strengths are that he plays a cerebral, 200-foot game that should translate well to the NHL level. So far in the U20 playoffs, Hämeenaho has played in just five games but has scored four goals to go along with seven assists. His dominance at the junior levels only further exemplifies that Hämeenaho may be wearing a Devils sweater and playing North American hockey very soon.

Cam Squires - Cape Breton Eagles - QMJHL

The Devils fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft was winger Cam Squires from the QMJHL. Squires didn't and hasn't gotten the same attention as Hämeenaho, but he looks like another potential mid-round gem.

Squires has continued to develop nicely in his Draft +1 year. In 66 games this season he scored 33 goals and 39 assists. His 72 points were eight better than his total from his 2022 season. However, it has been in the playoffs where Squires has popped off and made himself known in the Devils community.

In just five QMJHL playoff games so far, Squires has put up a Cape Breton franchise record of 11 points. His 11 points also have him ranked first in all of scoring in the QMJHL playoffs. Entering last year's draft, Squires was 56th on the NHL Central Scoutings list for North American skaters, as well as 87th overall on Craig Button's rankings, and after a solid 2023-24, he has put himself firmly in the mix as one of the Devils higher-end prospect.