Credit: NHL.com
Exploring the New Jersey Devils Young Core and Prospects
Published: Monday, September 23, 2024
by Ryan Fox
The 2024 - 2025 New Jersey Devils season is just around the corner. But before preseason starts, the Devils announced they would be participating in the 2024 Prospects Challenge. They would play alongside the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
New Jersey picked up their first win of the series with a 9-1 victory over the Ottawa
Senators,
followed by a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres the very next day. After a hard
fought tournament, the young prospect organization faced a 6-4 setback from the Boston
Bruins. Some of the most notable prospects that fans have been keeping their eyes
on were Cam Squires, Seamus Casey and Chase Stillman.
Stillman was selected 29th overall in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old forward spent the last few years in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) before finally making his AHL Debut with the Devils partner club, the Utica Comets, last season. Stillman had a slightly underwhelming AHL debut with only 24 points and 54 games played, after having a 48-point season the previous year. Stillman was determined to make a name for himself in this tournament, and that’s just what he did. He finished the tournament with 4 goals and 5 points in just 3 games.
Squires, a 6 '0 right-handed forward, was drafted by the Devils in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, going 122nd overall. He wrapped up the 2023-2024 season in the QMJHL with 72 points (33g 39a). Squires stated in an interview with NJD TV that the challenge was a “good learning experience”, as the forward is only 19 years old.
Seamus Casey has been the apple of fans' eyes as one of the most impressive defensive prospects in the league. Casey is a close friend of former teammate Luke Hughes, as they both attended the University of Michigan. At just 20 years old, he was the third ranked defenseman in points in the NCAA, and was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Casey still has his college years ahead of him and isn’t projected to start until 2026-2027.
Taking a glance at the regular New Jersey roster, the Devils have been noted for having an extremely young team core. Nico Hischier, Jack and Luke Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer and Šimon Nemec make up some of the younger guys consistently out on the ice. In an interview with new head coach Sheldon Keefe, Keefe said, “To be able to create new relationships with the incredible young talent that we have [in New Jersey] is very exciting. And I'm focused on looking forward.”
Keefe has already experienced another young core seen in the Toronto Maple Leafs, which somewhat mirrors the Devils youth. N.J had an extremely impressive 2022-2023 season, making it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but fell short against the Carolina Hurricanes. Simply put, they fell flat last season, not clinching anything. In the upcoming season, the team is looking forward to learning from their previous mistakes and making a rush for the Stanley Cup.
Ryan Fox can be reached at ryan.fox@student.shu.eduPosted in: sports,