New Jersey Devils NCAA Prospects Update: Casey Leading The Pack

NCAA Update:

Forwards

Samu Salminen has picked it up since last update after a bit of a dry spell following his two goal opening night. He is now sitting at a half a point per game. He is slightly off last season’s pace, but a hot streak would correct that. Salminen was a streaky player last year too, starting cold before coming on strong in the latter half of the season. So, anything can happen.

Artem Shlaine has picked up where he left off last season and is now over a point per game. Shlaine is in his senior year. so the Devils will have to make a decision on the center this summer. Either way, Shlaine seems poised to earn a professional contract somewhere.

Defensemen

As the the title indicates, as of Sunday, Seamus Casey was two points back from leading the entire NCAA in points and was leading all NCAA defensemen in points by five. Casey has been in a word “stellar” this season for Michigan. So, it should come as no surprise, but Casey has done well taking over power play duties after the graduation of Luke Hughes.

Ethan Edwards is still recovering from surgery.

To round out the defensemen, Viktor Hurtig has been a healthy scratch in a few games already this season and Charlie Leddy, while known for his defense, has only four shots on goal in eleven games. Leddy has more potential than Hurtig, but one would like to see more than four shots.

Goaltender

Cole Brady’s numbers have improved with two better games since last update, but he seems to have lost the starting job to Freshman Michael Hrabal, the Arizona Coyotes 2nd round pick in this year’s draft. Brady is also a senior, so the Devils will have to make a decision on him this summer as well. Losing the starting job as a senior to a freshman, even one with a pedigree such as Hrabal, should make that decision easier.

Around the Pool:

• Forwards Zakhar Bardakov and Arseni Gritsyuk will be part of Russia’s squad for the Channel One Cup next month.

• Even having missed a quarter of this season’s games, Simon Nemec currently sits tied for third on the Comets with 7 points. More on Nemec and Utica next week.

Final Thoughts:

Now it is time to tell us what you think. Please post all meaningful comments below.