Devils News & Rumors: Casey’s Training Camp Optimism, Brodeur’s MB30 Initiative, & More

After a long summer without hockey, the New Jersey Devils are back and better than ever. Rookie camp began on Friday, easing young players into the action and allowing them to showcase their talent. Following the first Rookie Showcase game on Sunday afternoon, a few prospects who immediately made a statement were Matyas Melovsky, Seamus Casey, and of course, Anton Silaev.

With the first preseason game less than a week away, the Devils are on the verge of a critical bounce-back campaign. And now that the NHL has adopted a condensed schedule to make way for an 84-game regular season, it’s important that the club shakes off the rust as soon as possible.

This installment of news and rumors highlights Casey’s optimism heading into training camp, Martin Brodeur’s MB30 golf tournament, and early candidates for call-ups this season as needed.

Seamus Casey’s Optimism for 2026-27

Casey remains one of the most intriguing prospects within the Devils’ pipeline. After appearing with the club for 14 games in 2024-25, the expectation was that he would spend last season developing with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). 

Instead, he was bogged down with a lower-body injury he suffered during training camp last year. He played in 29 games for the Comets and two for the Devils before being shut down in January and undergoing surgery.

Now that he’s fully healthy, he remains optimistic about his future with the Devils. After the first practice of rookie camp, he shared his desire to make an impact and improve his game throughout this season. “Just continuing to prove consistency, that I can do it over the full course of a season is the most important thing for me,” Casey told the media on Saturday.

He’s spent all of rookie camp partnered with Silaev — and the two have already generated a significant amount of chemistry. Whether it be in the AHL or NHL, this pairing could become a defensive mainstay. Casey excels at zone entries and passing, while Silaev offers speed and physicality that drives play. Both are expected to be on the ice with veterans on Wednesday, so it will be interesting to see if this combination becomes a permanent fixture.

Martin Brodeur’s MB30 Charity Initiative

To celebrate the start of the 2026-27 season, Brodeur held his seventh annual MB30 Golf Invitational, a tournament that unites all facets of the Devils’ organization. 

Brodeur believed it was important to bring together the franchise’s past and present. The tournament is a chance for current players to connect with staff and sponsors, while former Devils can share their stories and stay involved.

Happy’s got nothing on the Jersey Boys.

Capped off another successful MB30 Invitational Golf Tournament, benefiting the Devils Youth Foundation. pic.twitter.com/TxPbmPQJMj

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 15, 2026

From alumni to donors to newcomers, the event fosters end-of-summer camaraderie for a good cause. Proceeds from the tournament are donated to the Devils Youth Foundation’s Alumni Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to soon-to-be college students. 

In June, the foundation awarded ten $5,000 scholarships to New Jersey-based high schoolers. This marks the program’s third year being sponsored by the MB30 Golf Invitational. For the legendary Devils goaltender, supporting the Devils Youth Foundation is the most rewarding part. “We are proud to invest in young leaders who are committed to service, growth, and creating positive change,” said Brodeur.

Early AHL Call-Up Candidates

The Devils are in a precarious situation as training camp approaches. With an abundance of forwards and many defensemen carrying no-trade clauses, it will be very hard for training camp hopefuls to crack the opening night roster. However, there are a few players who should be at the top of the organization’s call-up list in the event of injury.

Fans should certainly keep Melovsky on their radar moving forward. The 22-year-old forward was drafted in the sixth round by the Devils in 2024 and spent all of last season in the AHL. But his performance at rookie camp so far has proven that may change. 

He was a force to be reckoned with against the New York Islanders on Sunday, with two goals and an assist. His pass to Mikael Diotte tied the game at one late in the second. Then, halfway through the third period, he scored twice within two minutes, tying the game once more before his go-ahead goal made it a 4-3 game. There’s no doubt that he’ll play a major role for Utica’s offense, but it should come as no surprise if he makes his NHL debut sooner rather than later.

Another player who could be called up in times of need is Ben Steeves, who was acquired as part of the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers. General manager Sunny Mehta clearly saw something in the young left winger, re-signing Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract in July. 

He appeared on the top line for the Devils in the first game of the Rookie Showcase alongside Melovsky and Lenni Hameenaho. Steeves generated numerous scoring opportunities early on, attacking the net throughout the first period. Right now, he appears to be on the cusp of transitioning to the NHL, and he could fit in with the Devils’ bottom six at some point in the near future.