NEWARK, N.J. — Seamus Casey knows his time in the American Hockey League is the stepping stone he needs to take on his path to an NHL career with the New Jersey Devils.

“It’s hard to make an NHL team, and the Devils do a great job of acquiring players, drafting well and signing players, and it’s exciting to be a part of all that,” the 20-year-old defenseman prospect said at New Jersey’s development camp last month. “I just want to do the best I can to get a chance to make the team, and if not, I’m willing to go wherever they think is best for me.”

Casey signed his entry-level contract on May 6 after posting 45 points (seven goals, 38 assists) in 40 games as a sophomore at the University of Michigan. A second-round pick (No. 46) in the 2022 NHL Draft, he will represent the Devils in the Buffalo Rookie Challenge from Sept. 15-19 and join New Jersey in training camp before beginning his professional hockey career with Utica in the AHL this season.

“A couple of people were asking, ‘What’s it like trying to make the Devils?'” Casey said. “I think playing two years at Michigan, of course you want to do the best you can, but it’s not like trying to make a team, because you’re part of a team. It’s exciting trying to make a team again. It gives you the creeps to get on the ice with the guys and compete and try to earn a spot, and if it doesn’t happen, you go to the next best place and do the best you can.”

Casey led Michigan defensemen and finished third in the NCAA in points, earned All-Big 10 First Team honors, was named to the Big 10 All-Tournament and NCAA All-Regional teams, and was a finalist for Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named an American Hockey Coaches Association/CCM All-American.

“I had a good talk with Casey (during development camp) and his decision to go pro,” Utica coach Kevin Dineen said. “It’s not easy to make that jump; I mean, he’s at one of the best schools in the country. He’s fun, he’s good on the ice and there’s a lot of good things that come with his situation at the school, but ultimately you have to make tough decisions to move on and he made that decision.”