Move Out Day 2 | BLOG

In the second day of media availabilities Devils player and head coach Lindy Ruff addressed the media following the 2021-22 season. Monday's players available include Yegor Sharangovich, Dawson Mercer, Pavel Zacha, Jesper Bratt, and Jesper Boqvist. Devils head coach Lindy Ruff also addressed the media Monday afternoon.
Check back throughout the day for quotes and video of these move out day availabilities.

DEVILS HEAD COACH LINDY RUFF:
On the end of season evaluations:
"We're all under a total evaluation. The players are under an evaluation, coaches, myself we're under an evaluation. It is really all a part of the process. It really is to leave no stone unturned. The evaluations will last two days for all the players, the evaluations with all the coaches, that is really what takes place right now."

On the impact of inconsistent goaltending this season:
"I think you look at the teams that do make it (to the playoffs) a lot of the wins will fall on consistent goaltending. For two years we've dealt with injuries, loss of important pieces. We lost both our goaltenders this year that we were counting on … which forced young goalies in the lineup which forced other goalies in the line up. It is a factor. It's one of the factors that hurt the opportunity for us to play those meaningful games."
On evaluating some of the performances:
"It is all really hard to evaluate when you're probably missing the most important piece. You ask your players to raise their play to a certain level. Last year we struggled scoring. Last year we needed better finish out of Jack Hughes, we got better finish. I thought we got better finish out of Nico Hischier. Nico put together a really solid last three-quarters of a season even fighting through an injury. You look at Sharangovich, started slow, but we found he guy we needed. Boqvist. You can look at a guy like Bastian, on the fourth line that scored the number of goals he did. Jesper Bratt a career year. Those were all things we needed."
On New Jersey and the organization:
"I think this is a great place. I think it's a great organization … I'm disappointed that we've kind of kicked at the door at the start of the seasons and then injury, injury and we can't quite push through … I'm excited about this group. Does the group have to get better? Yeah … but part of the group getting better is on me getting them where we need to get to go."
BRATT:
On his performance this season:
"I do think I took a step this year. I think I started on it a little last year and taking a new step. Really showing off the skill and the player I know that I can be and I think it started off good this year. This is probably the first year of my career when I really took my game to the next level and being on the start of the player I know I can be … I still think I have a lot more gears and it gives me a lot of excitement too knowing that I can go into the summer becoming even better than I was this year and hopefully helping the team win even more games next year."
On not hitting expectations for this season:
"It's tough standing here without being in the playoffs. We had really high expectations heading before the season and I'm still standing here with really high expectations on next year. I feel like every young player on the team is going to be one year of experience older next year. We have a really big offseason coming up. Everybody has to look into at themselves in the mirror and see how to make themselves better. How to make themselves stronger, and faster and a better hockey player. Because we all want to play the competitive games. This is my fifth year and I have one playoff series in the books. Next year I definitely want to stand having played way more meaningful games and way more experience."
On being a restricted free agent:
"I'm focusing on doing everything I can to become a better player next year. That's where my focus is. My focus is every day to get stronger, faster, improve all the things that I could. I think hopefully the negotiation part goes well. Obviously I see Jersey as my home. I've been apart of it for five years now, a team not really succeeding and an organization not really succeeding and I want to be a change in that. I want to be a part of the team that brought this team back to be a championship team."

ZACHA:
On not making the playoffs:
"I think every year it gets a little bit harder when you don't make the playoffs, you appreciate being in the league more and more, and just seeing your friends playing in the playoffs on other teams, it's tough to see. I think every year it's a little bit tougher and you hate losing more and more every season … I've been here six years and I've only made the playoffs once … (the young players) have to learn to hate to lose and I'm just going to try to do my best on the ice and help the team."
On his performance this season:
"I think there were some ups and downs … it's something I try to improve on my game and by the end I had some good steps there. Just something I have to work on in the summer again, getting better and doing those things. And that's the one thing I'm excited for this summer, just to get better."
On what he needs to improve offensively:
"I think I need to be a little harder on pucks and create more battles and chances for my teammates. I think I took some strides to get better at that even from last year to this year and that's something I have to work on to get better to help the team."

SHARANGOVICH:
On his second season struggles and turning to Comets Assistant Coach Sergei Brylin:
"My season started not good, and I wanted to help the team at the start of the season but I didn't feel like last year starting the season. I slept so bad after the first 15-20 games, but after lots of meetings (with the coaches) they helped me, I talked with Sergei Brylin a lot about my game and he told me to stop thinking about my game, about goals, about statistics, start playing my game, more compete in your battles, more focus on the small details and your game will come back."
"(Brylin) helped me a lot and right now too. He works a lot of games and sometimes we talk about different plays, system, about everything. Ut's nice to talk with him too because he won three Stanley Cups, he's so smart and he's coaching for 10 years already."
On how this team can be better:
"We have a couple good games against Colorado and Carolina, if we're playing the same way we're playing these games and we're playing more games like that next season we will have success and we will make the playoffs."
On the fan support he's received this season:
"It's really nice when fans like me, because it's really supportive when a lot of people say 'you're a good player', 'it's fun to watch you', it's really nice. I want to say sorry because it's a lot of messages and it's hard to text back but thank you everyone."

MERCER:
On playing all 82 games in his rookie campaign:
"Pretty exciting year in general. 82 games is a lot and that's just regular season. And obviously I was here four weeks before camp, and then rookie camp and then training camp and it was a lot but I enjoyed every step of it. Pretty happy when it was coming down to the wire to play in them all … that's an accomplishment I'm proud of to be in all the games and stay healthy."
On the trust from the coaching staff:
"As a young guy coming in playing good from the start and for them to keep giving me that opportunity and having that trust it's a lot of respect for them. They helped me out a lot. Talking with me, clips, it was great to see in me."
On playing in Worlds this summer:
"It's a great opportunity, I love all the Hockey Canada events I've been a part of in the past, and this is another one to add to that list. I'll go over there, it's a great experience for me, some more games and it'll prepare me more for the future of my career … when they called me I didn't hesitate, I wanted to say yes, and go over there. It'll be pretty important for me to put that sweater on."

BOQVIST:
On the success he had this season:
"I think the biggest steps so far, and a long way to go but for sure a big step here. I felt more consistent here, I felt I handed the games better, whether physically or mentally, whatever it may be. But I'm hungry for more, I can't wait to get back."
On the struggles of finding his game in North America:
"It's been hard for sure but I always knew it would happen some day. Even though it's been hard I've always trusted myself … the team helps too. Such great guys in there, and the coaching staff has been good to me too."
On his summer training plans:
"I will keep doing what I've been doing. I feel stronger every year. I think I will skate more this summer, I'm planning to at least. And just keep getting stronger. I feel like that's huge too, mentally, knowing you can go to battle against these guys (in the NHL)."