Inside Scott Wheeler’s Bold 2022 NHL Draft Shake-Up: Which Stars Rise and Fall?

28. Buffalo Sabres: RHD Seamus Casey

Actual draft pick: No. 46 (change: +18) to New Jersey
My final ranking: No. 27 (change: -1)

Casey, like Nemec, is caught up in a numbers game in New Jersey. That doesn’t take away from what he has shown over the years, which is that he’s one of the top offensive defensemen in his age group. He showed that internationally for Team USA. He showed it at Michigan, where he registered 45 points in 40 games as a sophomore. And he has now shown it in rookie tournaments and in the AHL. Though his results in the NHL were better than his underlyings, he was also immediately productive with the big club, registering eight points in 14 regular-season games, outscoring the opposition 8-4 in his minutes at five-on-five, and getting into a playoff game. He’s a high-end skater and offensive thinker who I think defends better with his feet and stick than people realize. He may, like Korchinski, need to be moved to fully reach his potential, but I’d bet we see it at some point in his career.

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