10 Takeaways: Before the Break

Leading up to the announcement that the Devils organization will be on pause until February 8th due to the club entering COVID Protocols, the team had been on a run. The group put together by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald and under the tutelage of Lindy Ruff has been finding its stride, even without key players like Nico Hischier, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Sami Vatanen.
This week there were standout performances, more than one milestone game, and plenty to celebrate all around.
Hear about it all in this week's 10 Takeaways:

1. Covid-Protocol

On Tuesday, the NHL announced that there are a total of 14 Devils players who are on the Covid-Protocol list.
Those on the list are Jesper Bratt, Connor Carriick, Aaron Dell, Jack Hughes, Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod, Kyle Palmieri, Damon Severson, Ty Smith, Matt Tennyson, Sami Vatanen, Pavel Zacha and Travis Zajac.
Meanwhile, a piece of good news as Mackenzie Blackwood is out of protocol and has been removed from the list.

2. Miles Betting on Himself

I've definitely brought up this story before, but I'm going to do it again. When we had our media day to start the season, I poignantly remembered Miles saying that he's putting pressure on himself this season, to be a contributor, get back to what had made him so successful earlier in his career. It stuck out to me because putting pressure on yourself is one thing, but to make that personal pressure public is another because it's words people can cling to, and throwback at you.
But he's backing it up, better than he ever has in his career.
Look at the stats today, Miles is the Devils leader in goals scored with five, his eight points also lead the team (tied with Jack Hughes and Ty Smith) and he has the team-high in plus/minus (tied with Matt Tennyson).

3. Practice Patience… It Pays Off

If there is anything we're learning from the emergence of both Nathan Bastian and Michael McLeod, it's the patience that is so very important when it comes to developing internal talent. McLeod will turn 23 tomorrow; Bastian is already 23. Both have had small dosages of NHL games, but this year they've stuck and more so have made an impact.
McLeod is coming off his first two-goal game and has scored the first three goals of his NHL career in his last three games played. His line, which has consistently had Bastian on his wing, has found a particular groove with the addition of Wood.

4. Don't Short-Change Us!

After that line combined for six points against the Sabres on Sunday, I should have framed my question post-game to Miles a little better. I asked him about being a hard-working, grind it out kind of line. He smiled that big toothless smile and said, "we have skill too!"
Of course, they do, and I know Miles said it in jest. Either way, whatever the line is made of, they're doing it right and being contributing members in every aspect of play.

5. Lindy Ruff Cooks Up a Roast

I don't think I've ever heard a coach roast his own player like Lindy Ruff did with P.K. Subban over the weekend. It truly was a thing of beauty, and the whole locker room exploded in laughter.

That laughter was the best part, because what is this sport if you're not having fun? Yes, it came after a win, but celebrating the highs is just as important as learning from the lows and Ruff has been good at making sure of that.

6. Mango Looks Ripe

Andreas Johnsson seems to have found his stride within his new team. Over the last four games, he's played better and better, now sitting on a top-line as a winger to Jack Hughes. He finally broke out with his first two goals of the season, in consecutive games over the weekend in Buffalo.
"I like the speed everyone is bringing. We help each other in every situation," Johnsson said after scoring his first goal, with Jesper Bratt as the other winger on the line. "We read off each other. It's not always one that has to have a puck or always one that has to go to the net. We have good movement, we're going to pass, and we can trust each other to make those plays, too."

7. Balancing Act

This is a good sign too because we're starting to see some balanced scoring through the lineup, which takes the pressure off of top players to be the constant offensive motor of the team. In the last four games, the Devils have scored 12 goals, with eight different players who have scored.
Now, imagine this lineup with Nico Hischier.

8. Ty on Top

Ty Smith is quietly going about his business in his rookie season. It seems every week he puts himself in a position to be in these 10 Takeaways. So what is it this week?
He sits number one in the league among rookies for points, with eight. Minnesota's Kirill Kaprisov also has eight (both players have two goals and six assists), but Ty has played one less game than Kaprisov.
Are we thinking Calder contention?

9. Speaking of the Young Guys…

While we're on the subject of young humans… when the Devils played without both Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri on Sunday, Miles Wood and Nikita Gusev were the oldest forwards in the lineup.
They're 25 and 28 years old respectively.

10. Eric Comrie Makes Debut

Great to see Eric Comrie get in an NHL game for the first time with the Devils. Even better for him to post a win against the Sabres for his third win in the league.
It was his first win since March 20, 2018, when he was playing with the Winnipeg Jets.