Devils Practice, Hold Final Scrimmage at Camp | NOTEBOOK

As training camp continues on, Group C practiced before Groups A and B faced off in the final intrasquad scrimmage of camp.

Below is full coverage of Sunday's training camp!

Today's Videos:

• PLAYER INTERVIEWS: Siegenthaler | Bastian
• COACHES INTERVIEWS: Head Coach Lindy Ruff | Associate Coach Travis Green
• DEVILS NOW: A Deliberate Duo

Group B Takes the Win

Nico Hischier scored the game-winner in overtime to give Group B a 3-2 win.

"I found the speed in the scrimmage great," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff shared after the scrimmage. "Some of the veteran players stood out, some of the young guys with their speed. I thought the compete in both scrimmages was ramped up from Day 1 and you know I think it just really took a day to get into it."

Luke Hughes participated in today's scrimmage after missing his team's first game and Ruff was happy with his performance.

"First day back in a scrimmage," Ruff shared. "I thought overall, got through, felt good. I really noticed his skating out there, so overall it was a good day for him."

Every team at Training Camp won one game and lost one game in overtime, showing the high level of competition at camp. To read the full recap of today's scrimmage, click here!

Practicing Away

Vitek Vanecek, Tyler Brennan and Akira Schmid worked with Group C for practice. All three, who have participated in the last two scrimmages, will not play in today's Group A vs. B game.

Today’s practice lasted an hour and focused on drills with some laps for conditioning. Cole Brown worked with Ondrej Palat and Dawson Mercer today. Chris Tierney, Nolan Foote, and Graeme Clarke made up the second line, while Timur Ibragimov, Shane Bowers, and Nate Bastian rounded out the final line.

The defensemen were paired up as followed: Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton; Santeri Hatakka and Topias Vilen; Will MacKinnon and Robbie Russo.

Although Haula didn't practice with his group, it was just to give the forward the day ahead of the Devils first pre-season games.

"Everything is good with him," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff shared. "He'll play tomorrow, (we) just gave him an extra day of rest."

On the Mend

This summer was a little different for Nathan Bastian as he spent the entire off-season recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained at the end of the 2022-23 season.

“I was obviously playing through it a little bit in the playoffs,” Bastian shared. “I was really happy I was able to play and fix my shoulder there right after.

“I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to come and skate with the guys at camp, so I’m really happy to be out there,” Bastian continued. “You kind of go one week at a time. I kept telling myself that I would be ready and now we’re here.”

With his recovery, Bastian didn’t start skating until August. The different training schedule can take a mental toll but the forward felt encouraged by his new deal.

“Signing a new deal this summer, I think helps you mentally,” Bastian explained. “You know that they’re on board with the process. So you’re going to get a little bit of a buffer and maybe a little bit of a leash to do everything you can to get back on track.”

Bastian is hopeful he will be able to play some pre-season games but he’s still taking it day-by-day.

“I got back to Jersey on September 1,” Bastian said. “Even from then compared to now I feel leaps better. So we’re here every day and I’m putting away every day. Day-to-day maybe you don’t notice things but week-to-week you notice a huge difference.

“I’m hoping maybe in the latter half of the preseason they can sneak me a couple games and hopefully my game’s at a point where there say, you know what, on night one you’re good to go.”

Green's Goal is Improvement

Over the summer the Devils hired Travis Green to serve as an Associate Coach on Lindy Ruff's staff. Below is an excerpt of a feature on him, read the full story by clicking here!

“The first four days here for me is not just about coaching but creating relationships, starting to understand players,” Green said. “Get to know them before you start teaching them. I think the best way to teach and coach is getting to know the people that you are coaching. That’s been a big part of the first four days for me.”

One aspect of the Devils’ game that Green, a veteran player of 15 years in the NHL, has been tact with helping will be on the power play. The club yields a lot of high-end talent with players like Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. The Devils converted 21.9 percent on the man-advantage last season. But more important than the percentage, is the timeliness of power-play goals.

“There are little tweaks we can do to improve it. I thought they took a jump last year,” Green said. “Being able to score when it really matters is a big part of the power play. With the youth of our group, it’s continuing to work and teach. Power play is something, as you’re in the league longer, you learn more about the power play. And we’ve added some players that will help, not just the first unit, but the second unit as well.”

-Sam Kasan, Beat Reporter, NewJerseyDevils.com

Bringing the Effort

Jonas Siegenthaler is ready to have another impactful season as a key member of the Devils defensive core. The defenseman sticks to what's worked for him every year, focused on doing his best.

“I just try to do my best every year,” Siegenthaler said. “I just want to bring my effort every day and just try to help the team to win games. I think if everybody chips in and then puts their effort in there, I think we have a pretty good chance."

With the departure of two defensemen to free agency, there's minutes and spots up for grabs. With several young blueliners fighting for those spots, Siegenthaler reflected on this opportunity for players like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec.

“You don’t see that very often that there’s two spots open,” Siegenthaler said following practice. “I think it’s probably the perfect situation for every young guy (fighting for a spot). I wish I would’ve had that when I was younger, but for Luke (Hughes) and (Simon) Nemec it’s a big chance.”

-Catherine Bogart, NJD.TV

In Case You Missed It:

VIDEO:

• SATURDAYS INTERVIEWS: Hear from Palat, Marino, Miller, Nosek, and Lindy Ruff
• DEVILS NOW: The New Guys
• BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Media Day
• WATCH: Meier Number Change

WRITTEN:

• SCRIMMAGE RECAPS: Day 2, A vs. C | Day 1, B vs. C
• NOTEBOOK: Luke Hughes Returns to Practice
• MEIER: 28 Has Become 'My Lucky Number'
• FEATURE: Devils Enter Camp with Lofty Goal