On the Case
Every player at Rookie Camp are looking forward to getting back into some competitive action on the ice. That will take place with the two-game home-and-home series with the New York Islanders, starting Sunday at 2 p.m.
But perhaps the player looking most forward to the contest is defenseman Seamus Casey.
After all, when the puck drops at 2 p.m. at the RWJBarnabas Heath Hockey House inside the Prudential Center, it will be Casey’s first game since Jan. 25 – nearly eight months.
“It was a long summer for me. In terms of hockey, it started for me in February when I had my surgery,” Casey said of the injury that limited him to just 29 games with Utica in 2025-26. “It was that much more runway to get healthy and focus on what I needed to focus on with rehab and getting stronger. I feel my body is in a really good spot, the best it’s been in a long time. I feel confident and super excited.
“I get to play the game I love again.”
Casey suffered a lower-body injury during last year’s training camp. Though he continued to work and play in first half of the year, he was shutdown for the season in January and underwent the surgery.
“He’s been off long enough that he’s really anxious to get back,” Parent said. “He’s just excited to be here, be a leader with the group and get back on the ice and show all the progress he made this summer.”
Casey, 22, was never at full health last season. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound defenseman is hoping that a full healthy slate will give him the best opportunity to show he belongs in the NHL full time.
“Just to improve consistency, that I can do it over the full course of the season is the most important thing for me,” he said. “Just for myself, I want to play a full healthy season and get better as the season goes on. I’m really looking forward to putting together a full year, get a full season and really prove what I can do.”
Training camp begins next week and will be an abbreviated version to those in years past. There will only be four preseason games and less practice days. So, there is less opportunity to show your mettle than before.
“Every camp you go in trying to make the most of every opportunity,” he said. “You don’t want to wait until the end. You want to start right away. Every practice, every rep you want to make a good impression.”
The prospects that will play in the two games against the Islanders in Rookie Camp actually have an advantage as they’ll be a little battle tested and ready for the start of the NHL camp next week. And for a player like Casey, getting early action is key considering how much time he’s been away from the game.
“I’m excited to hit the ice with these guys before camp even starts,” he said, “have a couple games with all those touches and get those cobwebs (out). It feels good.”
