The New Jersey Devils didn’t come away with the result they wanted in their first officially not official game of the 2026-27 season, falling 5-4 in overtime to the New York Islanders in a prospects game. Matyas Melovsky grabbed plenty of attention with two goals in less than a minute, and Luke Wilfley also gave Devils fans something to chew on after the 2026 NHL Draft.
But the most buzz centered on the blue line, where Seamus Casey and Anton Silaev looked like a pairing with real upside.
The two spent the whole game together and, for long stretches, made the ice look easy. There were some rough spots, especially from Silaev, but the connection was obvious.
He’s still adjusting to the North American game, yet his tools jump out immediately. And it’s not just the 6’7 frame.
Silaev’s skating was the loudest part of his night. He was moving through traffic like Luke Hughes, showing off stronger puck skills than expected and jumping into the rush more than once.
Casey, for his part, kept finding ways to skate around pressure and create something on his own. He was excellent at getting pucks out of the defensive zone, and his first pass was usually right on the money.
That mobility matters even more for Casey, who is trying to move past an injury-riddled 2025-26 season.
Casey is one of the Devils’ most intriguing prospects in this tournament. He’s reached the stage where plenty of players are expected to be pushing for a permanent NHL job, but injuries have kept that from becoming a realistic next step. The former Michigan standout has handled himself well in the AHL, though many were hoping for a bigger step forward last season, and it never really came.
A locked-in defensive partner heading into training camp could help change that.
Silaev brings another question with him. If Casey looked better with the former 10th-overall pick beside him, does that mean Silaev is closer to NHL-ready too?
The Devils have a logjam on defense, with too many veteran players carrying no-move and no-trade clauses. That makes it hard to see both Casey and Silaev breaking through at once unless they put together a truly eye-opening showing in a shortened training camp.
Still, if Sunday was a sign of what’s coming rather than a one-night flash, the duo could be a force in the AHL. That would matter a lot for Jakub Malek, who needs support in front of him.
The Comets’ defense let them down last season, and Casey’s injury was a big part of that. With Casey back and Silaev looking to move on from his KHL season, the Devils may have a pair that can grow together.
In Other News...
Jack Hughes Addressed The Devils Question Fans Wont Stop Debating
Jack Hughes used a recent interview with Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts to put a little more shape around where he stands with the Devils, and around the people making decisions upstairs. He talked about his relationship with former GM Tom Fitzgerald and current GM Sunny Mehta, while making clear he remains committed to New Jersey and energized by the teams recent moves. For a franchise trying to build around its young core, that kind of public alignment matters almost as much as anything happening on the ice.
The bigger conversation, though, has been the one fans will not let go of, with speculation still swirling around Quinn Hughes future and what it could mean for Jack Hughes down the road. Jacks ties to Nico Hischier and Luke Hughes help ground him in the present, but the outside noise keeps following him because the family storyline is never far from view. Even with his message of commitment, the debate around possible trade chatter and where this all leads next is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Anton Silaev Gives Devils Fans Hope And One Clear Reason To Wait
Anton Silaevs first impression in a Devils sweater gave the organization and its fans a glimpse of why he has become such an intriguing part of the pipeline. In a prospect game against the Islanders, the top defense prospect stood out for his size and physical presence, the kind of raw material New Jersey believes can eventually be shaped into a shutdown defender. For a club that has been looking to deepen its blue line, that kind of upside matters.
Silaev is still very much a work in progress, which is why the Devils plan to let him develop with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League this season. The next step is less about highlight moments and more about refining his defensive positioning and finding consistency from shift to shift. If that comes, the early promise could start to look a lot more like a long-term answer. [Read more 🡒]
Martin Brodeur Still Sets The Tone For Devils Hockey Season
Even in the middle of summer, the Devils calendar still has a familiar heartbeat. The clubs annual MB30 Golf Invitational has become one of those gatherings that feels as much like a season marker as a charity event, bringing together alumni, sponsors, donors and current players around a tournament founded by Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur.
Held as a reunion and a soft opening to the hockey season, the event carries a clear purpose beyond the course. The shamble-format tournament is followed by a reception, and the proceeds go to the Devils Youth Foundations Alumni Scholarship Fund, keeping Brodeurs long-running imprint on the organization tied not just to its history, but to what comes next. [Read more 🡒]