With prospects, one never wants to say “never”, but eventually time ends up against us all. Here are three Devils prospects on the final year of their contracts who really need to take the next step this upcoming season.
Josh Filmon
What Filmon needs to do: Maintain a roster spot in Utica and regain his scoring touch.
The Josh Filmon experience has been a bit of a rollercoaster since the Devils drafted the 6’3 winger in the sixth round (166th overall) in 2022. Filmon rocketed up the depth charts in his D+1 season
with a 47 goal campaign, good enough for 4th in the WHL and only three behind 2nd place finisher Kai Uchacz, who would have been the league leader if not for Connor Bedard. Unfortunately, Filmon’s newfound hype would be short-lived. Filmon’s D+2 would see his production plummet to 27 goals, though increased assists only lessened his overall point totals by 8, maintaining some hope for Devils fans.
The first two seasons of Filmon’s ELC have been mostly unremarkable. After a lackluster 12 pointless games with the Comets, Filmon would spend the majority of his first professional season with the Adirondack Thunder, finishing with a team-leading 20 goals after a slow start. Last season brought in new challenges; however, and Filmon would again split the season between the AHL and the ECHL. Though the majority of Filmon’s games (31) would be played for the Comets, Filmon had difficulty earning quality ice time, even on an offensively anemic Utica squad and finished the season with only four tallies and two helpers.
Filmon will be 22-years-old heading into this season. A late bloomer who had difficulty in his post draft years adding muscle on his wiry frame, there is still time for Filmon to salvage his career, but a breakout needs to come soon. If Filmon can keep a spot in Utica’s lineup this year and put up around 20 goals that would go along way to recapturing some of the buzz following him in his post draft year.
Ethan Edwards
What Edwards needs to do: Become a prime call-up option.
Ethan Edwards played well for the Comets in his first full pro season potting 10 goals and 23 points in 69 games, while providing steady defense, and even earned a brief call-up to New Jersey for a couple of days last season but did not play. This season the 24-year-old defender needs to show why he should be the first man up in case of injury. With the additions of Silayev and Kolyachonok this offseason, that task became much more difficult for Edwards.
The former University of Michigan standout really shouldn’t be expected to do more offensively and a regression in his goal totals is likely in order. Edwards’s ten goals last year were more than the defender has scored in any season according to Elite prospects, which tracks his stats all the way back to his U15 days. However, if Edwards can become a prime transition and shutdown defender, there’s a pathway for the 24-year-old to earn some time in the NHL. Edwards will have to wait for his opportunity, but if it doesn’t happen this season, then it may not ever happen for Edwards, at least not with the Devils.
Seamus Casey
What Casey needs to do: Stay healthy.
For Seamus Casey, a breakout year would, at least on paper, be rather simple. Just stay healthy. The problem with Casey has not been his play, at least not offensively. If it weren’t for injuries, it’s easy to imagine the 22-year-old already making his full time transition to the NHL. Casey put up 8 points in only 14 games with the Devils in 2024-25 and while the young defender still needed to work on his defensive game to be effective long term at the NHL level, injuries would hamper that development, limiting Casey to just 30 AHL games that season and only 31 total games last year (29 in Utica and 2 with the Devils).
As the clear top RHD in Utica, Casey is primed to earn an extended look in NJ this season should an opportunity arise on the right side. However, to do that, Casey will need to stay on the ice. It sounds simple because it is in theory. Unfortunately, this is one of those things outside of Casey’s control. If Casey comes back strong from his season-ending injury and continues developing on the defensive end, Devils fans should expect to see plenty of Casey in a Devils sweater this season and beyond. If the pile up of injuries proves to be too much; however, then Casey will become just another case of “what could have been.” Ultimately, my belief is still in Casey succeeding. There’s just too much talent there. Either way, this will be a big year for him.
Your Thoughts
What do you think? Who else really needs a breakout this season? Post your comments below.
