UM Hockey D Seamus Casey signs with NJ Devils
Adding my own thoughts about this announcement:
I feel like the speculation over which guys might sign has been somewhat overly optimistic over the last few years - seems like we talk ourselves into the best-case scenarios, saying "this team is already loaded with defensemen" or "that team wants to tank for another season or two so why would they add young talent right now", only to have those players sign anyway.
Not sure if it means anything, but it has generally worn away any of my own optimism over any players with professional prospects returning to the hockey program. I'm just going to assume they're gone, and if anyone does return, it'll be a happy surprise.
Yeah, maybe I'm just a jaded hockey fan but "Michigan Hockey Summer" is pretty consistent and just because Minnesota inexplicably is able to convince all of their stars to come back doesn't mean UM is insulated from it.
They got 2 years out of him and that's about what fans should expect at this point.
Bummer, but best of luck Brother Seamus. It’s not a full Michigan Hockey Summer, but seems close.
Is there any reasonable amount of $$ for hockey players in NIL?
There are a bunch of M hockey alums in the NHL. They could start a fund.
Hamburgers! Good luck Seamus!
Seamus Casey was the most important contributor on one of the most lethal power plays in NCAA history. His dynamic skating and distribution skills are likely to be the most underrated off-season loss. Selfishly, I'll miss watching him tilt the ice--but wish him all the best on his next adventure.
Tough to improve upon "quarterbacked the best power play in college hockey in over a decade". Good luck Seamus, I wish you well in your quest to add to Michigan's rich legacy of players dominating the NHL.
Am I losing it or haven't we known this for a month already
Umm...no?
I feel like I remember a tweet or two where people said he was likely to sign and I wrote him off as being likely gone, but now I can't find said tweets so who knows
Poop. Good luck to you, Seamus, and thanks for your contributions. Go and crack that D group in NJ!
What a Shame-us...
I'd be very surprised if this caught the coaches off guard because I don't think you get Tim Lovell in the transfer portal if Seamus Casey was coming back. You don't need two PP QBs on that level, and I don't think at Lovell's size he buys his way onto the team unless he's running the top PP.
I think in the NHL, Casey's a ~4th defenseman with considerable upside because he can run a lethal powerplay, but he's done most of the development he can towards that in college. This one really felt like maybe Casey wanted to sign more than NJ wanted to sign him this year.
Also, I wonder if there's another domino yet to fall. Truscott (1), Duke(2) and Edwards(3) seem like top-4 guys along with Lovell(4). Willson(5) and Hady(6) both seem like they're ready this year and I can't imagine they're going to push Rheaume-Mullen(7) off a year since he's a USNTDP player. They also flipped Gennadi Chaly(8) like 2 mo's ago. I thought Luca Fantilli(9) was fine on the third pairing last year and gives them some size and age. Miles is in the portal and I assume Orrico could do the same, but 9ish defenseman expecting playing time still seems like at least one too many. (And stick tap to the MGoHockey podcast for a great discussion of this last week.)
Well that stinks but good luck to Seamus in his pro career!