Devils Head Coach Cites Seamus Casey Struggles, Dwindling Ice Time

NEWARK — New Jersey Devils rookie defenseman Seamus Casey has been a revelation. The 20-year-old rookie has stepped up in a time of need, playing on his off side and filling a void in the wake of key injuries. However, over the last few games, Casey’s ice time has been dwindling. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe admitted Saturday night that he’s needed to reel the rookies ice time in a bit.

It’s been a rough go in some moments for the young Devils defensemen so far this season. Fortunately, general manager Tom Fitzgerald has provided the proper depth on the blue line to stay afloat, however, young defensemen struggling on the back end was one of the major setbacks last season. The Devils, thus far, have overcome that obstacle.

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As much as Casey has struggled over the last handful of games, Keefe made sure to back his player, citing how impressed he’s been with the situation he’s been thrown in.

“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.”

Through eight games, Casey has accrued three goals and four points. Two of his goals have come on the power play. One came at even strength in a timely moment to help the Devils when he tied the game at a goal each in New Jersey’s first meeting with the Washington Capitals en route to a 5-3 victory.

However, over the last two games, Casey’s ice time has begun to dwindle. In the third period on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, the rookie defenseman took just three shifts. And on Saturday, the 20-year-old played just 7:35 all game — the lowest time on ice for New Jersey.

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In fact, the Devils struggled as a whole defensively against the Capitals on Saturday night. Casey perhaps struggled the most, and wound up paired with Jonas Siegenthaler in a line shuffle. Keefe cites Siegenthaler has been one of, if not the best defensemen for the Devils.

“I’ve been really impressed with [Siegenthaler] all the way from day one of training camp,” Keefe explained. “He just competes & battles, plays a good, hard, simple game, and he’s given us really good minutes.”

Casey is playing up in a situation he wasn’t expected to be in so far this season. The former defenseman for the University of Michigan jumped right into the NHL from the NCAA, but was expected to begin the season in the AHL. Keefe explained he believes the heavy NHL workload is a key factor in Casey’s recent decline.

“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.”

As Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce returns loom, Casey’s recent struggles could make Keefe’s lineup decisions easier if the rookie can’t regain his head coach’s trust.

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