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Old 02-20-2024, 02:41 PM   #23051
devo22
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would absolutely love to get Casey. With him and Brzustewicz, RHD suddenly goes from weakness to strength in the prospect pool.

Wheeler just recently had him at 2 in the Devils prospect pool, only behind Nemec.

Quote:
Casey, the 27th-ranked prospect on my 2022 draft board, had a bit of an up-and-down draft season, with a strong start and finish briefly overcast by some struggles in the middle which prompted some scouts to question his top-two-round merits and his decision-making. I really liked the Devils taking a swing on him in the second round, though, and he has sure looked like a top-two-round guy as a freshman and sophomore at Michigan, where he has shone as a real catalyst from the back end with the puck and in distribution.

I really like a lot of his tools in isolation. When he’s on, there’s an unmistakable flow to his game where the puck just moves through him to its next destination within the pace of play, whether that’s a heady outlet out of a D-to-D pass or a quick carry into a cross-ice pass to allow his teammates to get open for him. Inside the offensive zone, he can make things happen with his blend of mobility and handling (he walks the line effortlessly but he also handles the puck like a forward one-on-one). He stops and cuts back on a dime to easily lose tracking forwards. He skates so well (though better on his edges than in a straight race). Inside the defensive zone, he thrives escaping past pressure.

He looks effortless out there at times, weaving in and out of coverage, and mixing in delays and fakes with the puck to create space for himself or take it from others. He’s a fabulous puck transporter through neutral ice and a tactile player inside the offensive zone, where his footwork shines through. He’s undersized, but his feet and stick help compensate and he has made his fair share of stops in college. He does a good job gaining inside positioning in nose-to-nose battles for pucks defensively and while he’ll lose some physical engagements he has shown he’ll engage willingly (he’s never going to be the strongest player out there, though he is a good athlete). He can also comfortably play his off-side (the left side), providing added versatility. I expect him to get signed out of college and if things break right, he’s got top-six, PP2 potential with the right coach/belief (though Hughes and Nemec will make his climb with the Devils harder than it would be in most other places).
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