Three New Jersey Devils to watch at the 2024 Prospects Challenge
JP Gambatese broke down a few players to keep your eye on this weekend.
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By JP Gambatese (@JP_Gambatese)
I say this every year, but this past off-season has felt like it’s taken forever. Fret not, though, for hockey is finally back this weekend.
Camp started Thursday, with the following players invited:
Forwards: Tag Bertuzzi, Jace Isley, Landon Sim, Cole Brown, Jack Malone, Cam Squires, Kocha Delic, Matyas Melovsky, Chase Stillman, Andre Ghantous, Xavier Parent, Dylan Wendt, Max Graham, Kasper Pikkarainen
Defensemen: Seamus Casey, Spencer Sova, Mikael Diotte, Jackson van de Leest, Will MacKinnon, Topias Vílen, Igor Mburanumwe
Goalies: Tyler Brennan, Zach Pelletier, Isaac Poulter
Notably, Josh Filmon will be missing rookie camp with a week-to-week upper body injury. Lenni Hämeenaho and Anton Silayev will also not be participating, as their respective leagues have started already.
With that in mind, here are a few Devils’ prospects to keep an eye on during camp:
Seamus Casey
It goes without saying, but the Devils’ best prospect should be dominating the scene at rookie camp. I don’t think he’s going to see NHL time this season considering the NHL-level depth New Jersey has on defense, but he should be a contender for Utica’s No. 1 right off the bat. An impressive showing at rookie camp would help push him toward increasing his playing time and furthering his development.
A puck-moving stud at Michigan University the past two years, it’s been clear that Casey was playing out of his league in the NCAA.
Besides Arseni Gritsyuk, Casey is the most NHL-ready prospect in the system and should be rookie camp’s unquestioned best defenseman.
A good showing at camp leading to an increased role in Utica should only solidify him as the Devils’ third-pair offensive defenseman of the future — or increase his trade stock enough to be a very enticing piece at the trade deadline.
Chase Stillman
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