Devils Practice, Scrimmage on Day 2 of Camp

Day 2 of training camp was split into two different portions on Friday. All players have been split into three separate groups, Groups A, B and C. After all three held practice sessions yesterday, today only Group A practiced while B and C scrimmaged.

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With head coach Lindy Ruff watching from atop the stands, assistant coaches Ryan McGill and Chris Taylor stood behind the bench for Group C while associate coach Travis Green and assistant coach Sergei Brylin managed Group B.

Ruff took the opportunity to take in a different vantage point of his players to gain a little more perspective on the 

"I really get to see a bigger picture of the game, where if I stand on the bench I don't get to see what's down in the far right corner and what's really happening. The bigger picture is a lot easier to see when you're above the game. You get to see the whole rink and you can see the forecheck part a lot better, you can see the offensive zone stuff a lot better."

What Ruff saw was Group C win the scrimmage during 3v3 overtime, Ondrej Palat scoring the game winner on goaltender Keith Kinkaid. 

For a full recap on today's scrimmage click here!

A New Phase

The Devils may still be young, but they are young in age only. After last year's season and post-season, this group has found a new level of standard from one year to the next and the notion that 'we're a young team' appears to be in the rearview mirror. 

With most of the core of the team still 25 and under, by age, the team could be considered young, but it's not part of the dialogue in the dressing room anymore. 

"People can still use that, but we're not going to because we're past that," veteran defenseman Brendan Smith said. "What we did last year, everybody has an expectation and that's great. Now we have to answer the bell."

And that starts right from the beginning of the season, the team learned a valuable lesson last year how crucial a good start to a season can be in setting you up for the final push when you're closing in on Game 82. 

"Now everybody knows when we come in or they come to us, we're going to get their best game. We're not going to get their second goalie, we're going to get their best. We have to be prepared for that."

Couple of Quotes 

Nolan Foote on how his game grew in Utica last season:

"I think just playing a 200-foot game, playing a little bit of the penalty kill and both special teams and just getting a lot of ice time in different areas. I think my development and my ice time just grew as a whole and it was a very productive year for me."

Kevin Bahl when asked how coming into camp this year feels after having established himself last season"

"In my head, I definitely have that feeling of I don't want to get complacent. That's one of the the things coming into this camp, I don't want to get complacent, I don't want to think [I've established myself]. I think if I think that way I won't be able to push myself to keep getting better each day and that's what I'm trying to do."

In Case You Missed It

VIDEO: 

• Catch up on all of Day 1's interviews with players, head coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Tom Fitzgerald
• DEVILS NOW: Setting the Tone
• NJD.TV SPECIAL: Meier Changes Number

WRITTEN: 

• FEATURE: Devils Enter Camp with Lofty Goal
• NOTEBOOK: Devils Training Camp Underway
• FEATURE: Meier: 28 Has Become "My Lucky Number"
• FEATURE: Nemec's Words Speak of his Growth