Devils Send Top Prospect to AHL, Recall Defenseman

The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that they have reassigned defenseman Seamus Casey to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets. In a corresponding move, they recalled defenseman Daniil Misyul.

After Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals, you could see this coming. Seamus Casey’s minutes over the last few games had diminished, and the Devils’ head coach simultaneously praised the 20-year-old and expressed concern with his play.

“Well it’s just, you know, he’s struggled for the last little bit, you know? Ryan McGill has a feel for the [defense] in the back,” Keefe explained to New Jersey Hockey Now. “He’s trying to make it all work. To me, [Casey] has done a really good job here. We’ve talked about it, how impressed I’ve been with him.”

READ: Devils Head Coach Cites Seamus Casey Struggles, Dwindling Ice Time

Few are able to transition seamlessly — such as Cale Makar did — from the NCAA to the NHL. Despite Casey’s ability to show flashes of brilliance as a rookie, Sheldon Keefe explained it’s the schedule that ultimately is taking a toll on the rookie defenseman.

“To me, it looks like the schedule’s eating him up. Not just him, but probably our whole team,” said Keefe. “I mean, we just played six games in 10 days. That’s a kid who’s not only not played in the NHL before, but he’s played a college hockey schedule. This is all unheard of [for Casey]. So perhaps our whole group shows up, but for a young guy like Seamus, it’s been kind of piling on and that’s what happens when a coach loses his confidence in you, it’s hard to kind of get going. But we actually had him called up to go out in overtime, we just didn’t hang on long enough to get him out there.”

Coming to the Devils is Misyul who is a left-handed defenseman, perhaps the next one in line via the Devils’ depth chart. Misyul is a KHL to North American import. He has yet to make his NHL debut, but made his pro debut last season with the Comets. He scored four goals and 14 points in 44 games.

Casey accrued three goals and four points in eight games with the Devils in his first NHL stint. He certainly gained a lot of attention and solidified an NHL future.