Devils rookie Seamus Casey was filled with joy when he entered the Devils locker room, greeted with an exuberant water bath from all his teammates.
Casey must be on cloud nine right now. Not only did he make his NHL debut, but he also scored his first career NHL goal. He played a pivotal role in the Devils’ 2-0-0 start to the season, helping secure victories against the Buffalo Sabres in both games in the NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia.
Before his debut, Casey admitted to feeling nervous, but those jitters never manifested on the ice. The Devils’ 2022 2nd Round Pick showcased his poised play, elite playmaking ability, and lethal wrist shot. The 20-year-old looked confident with the team.
Undoubtedly, Casey’s most significant moment in his first two games came in the second match. Quarterbacking the second power play unit, he sought to tie the game up at 1. Casey possessed the puck near the blue line and drove toward the net. A Sabres defender attempted to fend him off, but Casey executed a toe drag to slip past and fired a shot over Devon Levi’s blocker to equalize the game.
“Seamus Casey’s first goal is a masterpiece,” declared Devils Play-by-Play Announcer Bill Spaulding.
This goal served as a huge momentum shift for the Devils, propelling them to victory. Casey has made an immediate impact on the team.
Having spent the last two seasons playing for the Michigan Wolverines since being drafted by the Devils, Casey recently signed an entry-level contract and prepared to enter his first training camp with the team.
Not many people believed that Casey had a chance of making the Devils roster, especially with the offseason additions of Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Johnathan Kovacevic to the blue line this off-season. However, the former Michigan Star shone during training camp and preseason, earning himself a spot on the Devils’ roster.
It remains to be seen whether Casey stays in the Devils lineup when Brett Pesce and Luke Hughes return from injury. Regardless, Casey has demonstrated in his first two games that he possesses a bright future in the NHL.
