Devils defenseman Seamus Casey out 8 to 10 weeks after knee surgery

New Jersey Devils defenseman Seamus Casey is expected to miss eight to ten weeks after knee surgery, the club confirmed Friday, October 2. Casey was injured during a preseason game against the New York Rangers last week. The Devils' update is the first specific recovery timetable for the 22-year-old since he left that game.

Coach Sheldon Keefe said the surgery went well and that Casey would begin rehabilitation. The eight-to-ten-week figure is the team's present estimate, not a promise that he will be ready for a particular game. New Jersey has not announced a return date, and the timetable may change as his recovery progresses.

The injury and the timetable

This is an interruption at a particularly important point in Casey's development. The Devils said he appeared in two NHL games and 29 American Hockey League games in 2025-26 before that season ended with surgery in February. Friday's announcement means another stretch without games while he works toward a larger role with New Jersey.

The immediate lineup impact is more limited than losing an established nightly starter, but it removes an option from the Devils' defense depth. New Jersey's Friday practice notebook described Declan Chisholm working on the right side alongside Brenden Dillon, a pairing that played together in the season opener. That is the club's current arrangement, not a declared long-term replacement for Casey.

What New Jersey has to cover

The Devils opened the season with a win over Philadelphia and visit the New York Islanders on Saturday. Casey's recovery will be followed on its own terms. For now, the confirmed facts are the knee surgery, the team's eight-to-ten-week estimate and the opportunity New Jersey must cover while he is out.