New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
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Ken Daneyko | Speak of the Devils
It can't be easy.
For the first time since he was 15 years old, Ken Daneyko's schedule is one he sets. From his early years, Daneyko was deeply enthralled in the hockey life, game-day, practice-day, scheduled bus times, meals, and days off. That's all different right now as he waits for the next NHL season to begin.
PODCAST: Ken Daneyko Adjusting to New Routine
Mr. Devil joins the Speak of the Devils Podcast, anxious to get back into the swing of an NHL routine
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"We have such a regiment, whether it's as a player or even us now doing what we do for the Devils organization, the broadcast, everything else -- we're used to being scheduled and having a routine," Daneyko said on this week's episode of the Speak of the Devils Podcast, "and I kind of like that it's been that way my whole life since I was 15 years old when I went away from home to play Junior hockey."
But that doesn't mean that he hasn't taken advice from all his hockey years to manage the last months of the pandemic.
"It's been weird. It's different, obviously," he said, "but you roll with the punches and I always have been one of those guys that stays positive. And because this is out of our control, Lou Lamoriello taught me that when things are out of your control, even when I was a player and a young, fired up rookie and wanted to do more, do this or do that, and always, you know, thinking about the what-ifs he goes, 'It's out of your control, don't worry about it's out of our control.'"
And so that is what Daneyko has been doing, taking the extra time to spend with his children and wife Margaret. But Dano has kept his eye sharply on the Devils and the storylines that have followed the team in the last few months, a new coach, new assistants, an interim tag removed, and players added. He shared his thoughts on all those changes with hosts Matt Loughlin and Amanda Stein, sitting down with the podcast filled with Daneyko's insights and hearty laugh.
"Look, no player wants to be off this long, obviously," Daneyko said, "and the circumstances, were just that, I mean, we're in unprecedented times.
Despite the long break from the game, Daneyko is keeping his 'glass-half-full' mentality when it comes to players returning next season. In particular, Jack Hughes.
"He's going to mature more into a man, not just from working out, but just in general. And what I always loved about Jack Hughes, look, we know how young he is, he came in as a young 18-year-old, a lot of pressure, number one overall, the team didn't start very well, that can be very difficult for an 18-year-old, but he's still very confident. You didn't see his head hang, his body language on the bench, I felt anyway, he knows when it clicks. And when he gets a little more experienced, and when he gets a little stronger, which he's had a long time to do that, if you looked at him lately, he does look more like a man looks more solid."
"I think he's excited about where he can go and be with becoming a little more mature and a little more physically ready for the National Hockey League," he continued, "I think he's going to be that much more content coming in this season along with a lot of guys."
Daneyko went on to include Nico Hischier in his list of players he's most excited to watch. Nico, in his fourth year, Daneyko expects an even bigger step in his progression. He takes Loughlin and Stein through it all this week in a must-listen episode. The three are used to the routine and rigors of the NHL schedule, although exhausting at times, it is missed.
"All I do is hope and pray and that everything kind of gets back to normal sooner than later, just like all you guys, I'm sure. But it's the regiment the routine. I've loved it. I've had it for 40 years. Some people say well, it's nice maybe to get a stray away from your regiment. But that's all I know.
