Seamus Casey is entering an interesting season for the New Jersey Devils. It's the final year of his entry-level contract, and while he may not be due for a payday quite yet, he is due for a real shot at the big leagues. A shortened preseason means less time to experiment with personnel, but Casey should get a chance to turn one question mark into a period during the upcoming four-game exhibition slate.
Here’s what he needs to do to secure a spot on the opening night roster.
1. Stay healthy
Injuries have already been an issue in Casey’s young career. Coming off a 14-game rookie stint in 2024-25, he was expected to establish himself as a full-time NHLer before his trajectory was derailed by a lower-body injury during last year’s training camp. The ailment lingered through 29 games played with the Utica Comets, and he ultimately sat out the AHL All-Star Classic and ended his season in favor of corrective surgery.
The Devils' lineup has been brutalized by injuries over the past few seasons, but so far, Casey seems to have recovered from his. Staying healthy, conditioned, and ready to step into a main-stage role — like the one recently opened (albeit temporarily) by Johnathan Kovacevic’s knee rehab — will be the most important step toward sticking with the top squad in October.
2. Keep up the offense
The Devils thrive when they’re generating offense from the back end, and that’s what Seamus Casey does best. He had two assists during his two preseason games in 2025, and he put up the same point-per-game numbers, this time paired with Anton Silaev, during the recent rookie games against the New York Islanders.
Even through last year’s injury-limited 29 games with Utica, the shifty defenseman still managed 19 points for .66 points per game. He’s already proven that this skill set translates to the NHL level by scoring four goals and eight points in 14 games during his 2024-25 call-ups. As long as he can handle the defensive side of the puck at least as well as Johnathan Kovacevic, he can easily be a step up on the attacking side.
3. Force tough roster decisions
First-year GM Sunny Mehta hit the ground running in New Jersey, using his first offseason to add forward depth, move less-than-stellar contracts, and prove he’ll be assertive in building a contending team. Although the Devils D-corps is still saddled with some tricky contracts from the Tom Fitzgerald administration, Mehta’s goal will be to ensure those six or seven spots go to the most deserving players, which could very well include Seamus Casey.
Speculation aside, it’s up to Casey to force Mehta’s hand. Kovacevic won’t be out forever, and the regular right-shot blueliners all have some form of trade protection through the 2026-27 campaign. Whether the solution entails carrying seven defensemen or making a trade, Dougie Hamilton's 10-team trade list could still be in play. The onus is on Casey to make himself irreplaceable.
If he stays healthy and plays his game consistently, Seamus Casey could take over Kovacevic’s spot on the third pairing and contribute to a good problem to have for Sunny Mehta when he considers the opening night roster and beyond.
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