PROSPECTS TO WATCH
Devils - Seamus Casey
It had been nearly eight months since defenseman Seamus Casey played a competitive hockey game. He spent his summer rehabbing lower-body surgery and hadn’t competed since Jan. 25 with Utica.
In his return on Sunday afternoon in the opening Showcase contest, Casey looked every bit himself. His skating was smooth, his decision-making was crisp, his puck movement was on point and vision was on full display.
For all intents and purposes, the 2025-26 season was a lost year for Casey, who suffered an injury during the Prospects Challenge and never really was right. He spent most of the year dealing with an issue that eventually shutdown his season prematurely.
Now, he’s the healthiest he’s been in his entire career. And with the Devils having some open competition for a seventh (and possibly eighth) blueliner, this may be Casey’s biggest opportunity to stick in the NHL.
Islanders - Kashawn Aitcheson
While everyone remembers Matthew Schaefer being selected first overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, they also picked up another stellar defenseman in the first round. With the 17th-overall pick, the Islanders took Barrie blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson.
The left-shot defenseman posted 28 goals, 42 assists, 70 points and a plus-46 with Barrie during the 2025-26 campaign. For good measure, he added 15 power-play goals. He was named to the 2026 OHL First All-Star Team.
Aitcheson, 19, added an eye-popping eight goals and 27 points in 19 playoff games for the Colts last year.
