| Seamus Casey | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | D | 5’10” | 161 | Michigan | 2023 | Estero, FL | 2004 | 2021-2022: B |
Ian Moran’s Thoughts: High end offensive talent who’s defensive game has improved during his time with the NTDP. He has a very explosive stride and excellent for way quickness. His ability to possess the puck and generate transition makes him an ideal NHL defender after a few years at the University of Michigan.
USHL: Madison Capitals vs NTDP, January 24, 2022: Casey is an average size defenseman who plays with an offensive mindset. Casey isn’t physical by any means but he still maintains good positioning, awareness, and responsibility defensively. He shows high hockey IQ as he knows where to be and is a step ahead of the play. He anticipates the next play very well. He is a smooth skater with subtle change of direction and is excellent with the puck. In the offensive zone, he is excellent with the puck at the blueline and has quick change of direction and escape ability from attacking defenders. Casey shows excellent ability to change direction in order to create space and open up passing and shooting lanes. He shows excellent vision and playmaking/passing ability which was evident on USA’s 6th goal of the game when he picked up the puck at the right dot and made a quick, accurate one-timer pass into his teammate’s wheel house allowing him to get the shot off quickly. Seamus was a step ahead of the play and he knew where he was going with the puck beforehand. He also showed a quick release getting several shots on net in this game. Grade: A
NCAA: U18 NTDP vs Cornell University, November 3, 2021: Casey played a solid game against older competitors. His foot speed and agility are not high end although very adequate. He does make good puck decisions on the breakout. He made a good play in 1st period playing in a 1v1, used good body positioning and stick to break up the rush. Casey did a good job reading plays and anticipating passes. He scored the 1st goal of the game, seeing-eye shot from the point that hit the high blocker side while the goalie was screened.
NAHL: Johnstown vs NTDP, October 8, 2020: Offensive defenseman that loves to jump up into the play. His skating ability allows him to always be in the play and be a fourth man in. Has some grit to his game at well shown with a couple hits. Grade: A-
U16: Dixon Cup Playoffs, February 23, 2020: Seamus is an exciting player to watch as he makes something happen on every shift. He is a strong skater with excellent hands who has the ability to skate through the whole team. He scored an amazing goal in overtime against Esmark as they won the neutral zone faceoff and skated in 1 vs 1 and dangled the defender and the undressed the goalie for the game winning goal. He is solid in the defensive zone as he did a great job versus Gentry Galax’s top line, as he closes the gap and takes away their time and space away. He has great vision and the ability to set up his teammates and he also has a solid shot to score from the point.
U16: ECC Labor Day, September 11, 2019: Casey was one of the best defenders (if not the best) at this event and he was playing up by a year as well. While he may have given away a few inches in height to some of his opponents, his mobility and excellent skating ability gave him an advantage both in his own zone and in the offensive zone. He has the athletic ability to take off anytime he wants from the D zone and skate the puck deep into the offensive territory without being diverted. He has great first step quickness but he’s also smart about how he keeps his gaps in the defensive zone and he does not let opposing forwards get too far away. His stick was one of the best defensive sticks we saw at this event because he was able to disguise his poke checks and surprised forwards by knocking the puck loose with a quick tap. He used his great footwork in order to cancel plays by standing up forwards at the blue line as well. His mobility should not go understated either, because it allowed him to cover more ground moving laterally or north and south depending on where he needed to fill gaps in coverage. He was one of the key reasons that the Alliance won the championship of the 16U Red Division. Grade: A+ College: Michigan
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: It would be hard to call Casey a defenseman because he plays all over the sheet; he’s sometimes even the first guy in on the forecheck. A dynamic skater and puck handler; he has elite stick skills and can make passes that nobody else here could make. He’s elusive and evades forecheckers with quick dekes and agile feet. He’s poised with the puck, plays a possession style game and has the skill and vision to make plays, stretch the ice and quarterback the power play. Most of the offense comes through him when he’s on the ice. He rushed the puck at will, shows no panic when being pressured and has the vision to find his teammates through a crowd. He has an impressive ability to separate from opponents and move the puck before they can react and he was excellent along the offensive blue line opening up shooting and passing lanes with his mobility and puck play. Casey can maintain a tight cradle while keeping his head up, surveying the ice and showed the ability to make tape to tape saucer passes at full speed. He needs to get stronger and more reliable defensively as he tends to run around and relies almost exclusively on his stick to defend. Offensively he can get carried away and take ill-advised chances, but at this age we tend to appreciate the confidence and creativity more than we punish the lack of discipline. At this point he’s the most talented defenseman in the age group and a sure-fire NTDP prospect. Grade: A College: Michigan
U14: USA Hockey Nationals, April 30, 2019: Seamus is athletic, long, smart and clever. He didn’t have to defend much because he had the puck almost all the time. More of a rover type. He scored in all sorts of ways here. Fought through chaos in front to bury a rebound, deked to his backhand and slipped one home, went end to end to bury (twice vs the T-Birds) and rifled pucks by goalies. His hands are lethal. His vision is also elite as he sees the whole ice and can place pucks exactly where he wants them. He is not a player that just creates on the rush, although he excels there. He also was able to create below the goal line and move pucks off the high cycle. He has great reach and knows how to protect the puck, extend possession and find the best offensive option. He is poised, smart, clever and much faster than he appears. He used his reach to create plenty of turnovers and picked off lots of passes. Showed he could spin and fire pucks on net. He was able to carry speed and the puck on his edges and drive the net. His touches were almost flawless and he played a lot. He got a lot of pucks to great spots. He was a man among boys and has the ability to play at the highest level. Uniquely diverse player at this age. The Florida native led his team in scoring with 11 points in 5 games. College: Michigan
U14: HPHL Playoffs, February 24, 2019: More of the same from Casey. High-end everything. His wizardry with the puck continues. He is so fun to watch play, with all of his creativity and tricks. One of the best players in a very talented 2004 age group. Grade: A
2004s: Silver Stick, February 10, 2019: Seamus has a lot of skill with the puck. That has been documented in some of our previous reports. He didn’t really get going when we watched but we noted a few things. He is big with a very quick stick. Worked hard at both ends and is a terror on the forecheck. He hunted pucks with speed, used his stick well and stuck with plays. No fly byes for him. Showed attention to detail and an approach that bodes well for such a talented player. Clearly talented on an average team. High ceiling as he showed a side to his game we liked. College: Michigan Grade: B+
U14: HPHL Chicago Showcase, November 23, 2018: Casey is an absolute wizard with the puck and a pure joy to watch play hockey. He checks every box as far as skill level and skating ability, and his vision and reading of the play may be unmatched by anybody in this age group. Phenomenal passer and playmaker, with all the behind-the-back, bells-and-whistles type feeds to the simple backdoor play, his ability to move the puck is outstanding. High-end talent in all facets of the game and the best player on the ice this weekend. Grade: A+ College: Michigan
STX Combine Report, August 20, 2018: It felt the puck was on Casey’s stick this weekend as much, if not more, than anybody’s. Always has the puck, always engaged and involved in the play. High-end speed and feet, great on his edges. With his feet and intelligence working together he’s especially adept at finding open ice and soft spots in coverage for open looks. Real fun player to watch.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images