New Jersey Devils Prospects to Watch in 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship
Each year, the World Junior Championship showcases promising young hockey players. This year, the New Jersey Devils have two prospects in the tournament.
The World Junior Championship is a chance to see young players in action as they develop into stars. The rosters for the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship are set. 30 of the 32 NHL teams have prospects playing in the tournament in Sweden.
The New Jersey Devils have two promising prospects participating in this year’s World Juniors. One is on Team USA and one is on Team Finland. Here are the two Devils prospects to watch.
Seamus Casey
A Team USA skater to watch in the tournament is Devils prospect, defenseman Seamus Casey. 19-year-old Casey was a second round pick by the Devils in 2022. He’s currently in his sophomore season at the University of Michigan. Last year, he made the World Juniors team as a reserve, not seeing ice time. This year, he’s one of the strongest defensemen on USA’s World Juniors roster.
Versatility is the name of Casey’s game, as he contributes all over the ice, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. In 18 games with the Wolverines this season, he has racked up 23 points. He currently leads Michigan in points, is second among NCAA defensemen and is tied for ninth overall in the NCAA. His +10 +/- is tied for the best on the Wolverines.
The two-way defenseman doesn’t just pile up the points but also protects the defensive zone. Casey skates well, has good defensive awareness, and breaks up plays. He isn’t the biggest player, but Casey’s defense has improved and developed during his time at UMich.
Will we see Casey in the NHL soon? Despite defensemen typically needing longer to develop than forwards, his development looks great, and he could be ready for NHL play next year. However, there's not really a place for him. The Devils already have three young defensemen on the roster: Kevin Bahl, Luke Hughes, and now Simon Nemec. It seems unlikely to add another to the mix soon. When Casey is ready, the Devils need to have a plan for him.
With a loaded team, Team USA has a realistic chance to win World Juniors. They took home bronze last year, and they last won gold in 2021. USA Hockey won both of their pre-tournament exhibition games. They face Norway in the preliminary round of World Juniors on December 26. Expect Casey to have an impact on both sides of the ice.
Lenni Hämeenaho
Finland doesn’t have the strongest roster in this year’s World Juniors, but one of their standouts is Devils prospect Lenni Hämeenaho. The 19-year-old was selected by the Devils in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. The winger currently plays for Porin Assat of SM-liiga, the top Finnish professional league. This will mark his second appearance in a World Juniors.
Although he may not be the most dynamic player, Hämeenaho is known as a smart and reliable player with an abundance of hockey sense. He's in his second season in Liiga. In 26 games this season, Hämeenaho has 17 points. He is second in points and leads his team in goals.
Hämeenaho wins puck battles and creates chances, but speed is not his strength. In the defensive zone, he has great instincts. Hämeenaho's defensive positioning is on point. He takes away space from opponents and asserts physicality.
Will we see Hämeenaho in the NHL soon? Not quite yet, as he’s still developing in Liiga. The Devils have a lot of talented forwards. World Juniors is a chance for Hämeenaho to prove himself on the world’s stage and show how his development is coming along. He might be almost ready for the AHL.
Last year, Finland was eliminated in the quarter-finals of World Juniors. This year, they face off against Canada on December 26 in the preliminary round of the tournament. It will be a tough match-up for them. Expect Hämeenaho to make an impression.
Seamus Casey and Lenni Hämeenaho are prospects to watch in World Juniors. The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship kicks off on December 26 and concludes on January 5.
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