Siegenthaler's Steady Hand | FEATURE

Jonas Siegenthaler, 24, joined the Devils organization on April 11, 2021, following a trade with the Washington Capitals. Since that time, Siegenthaler has seen his game grow from struggling to adapt into the team's most reliable blueliners.
It's understandable that SIegenthaler had a slow start upon his arrival in New Jersey. He had only played in seven games at that juncture of the season in Washington because of coach Peter Laviolette's preference of using a veteran defense corps. That left little ice time or game action for the then 23-year-old second-round pick (57th overall) in 2015.
Siegenthaler admitted he struggled early on with conditioning, due to lack of playing time on the year, and learning a new system in those early days. It didn't help that after only six games with his new Devils club he contracted COVID-19. Admirably, he worked hard to return for the final two regular-season games instead of just shutting it down for the rest of the season.
"He hadn't played a lot of hockey. It's tough to evaluate someone who basically spent most of his time on the outside looking in at Washington," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said. "He came here and got COVID and spent some time off again."
But a lot has changed in nearly 11 months.

"When you look at where we thought he could play and who he could play with," Ruff said, "he's filled where we thought he could be."
Where that would be is a top-tier defenseman on the club that has mixed well with a more offensively-minded partner.
"He's been a real good compliment to the offensive players, whether that's been (Damon Severson) or Doug Hamilton," Ruff said. "If those guys are going to (play with) some risk, you need a guy that's going to defend some of the plays that come at you. He's been one of our better players at defending situations when offensive guys have been involved."
"My type of game fits pretty good with Dougie or 'Sevy,'" Siegenthaler said. "I can read them pretty good. I can just play my game. I think it just matches. I know what they're doing and what they're job is. They're a little more offensive. I'm not that offensive minded. But it's a pretty good match."
Siegenthaler may not be "that offensive minded," but he isn't the prototypical stay-at-home defenseman either. For being 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, the Swiss-born blueliner is an above average skater and has shown a knack for pinching in on plays in the offensive zone. Though, until Friday night, he hadn't gotten much puck luck.
That changed at Chicago when he snapped a 94-game goal-less drought, which dated back to Dec. 19, 2019, while with Washington (the goal coincidentally came against New Jersey).
"It's always nice to get the first of the season. It's been a long time," he said. "I wasn't forcing it. I knew it was going to come eventually."
But Sigenthaler's real strength is in his own zone with his steadying play. He is always in the right position, provides support to his partner on outlets and has shown an ability to get the puck out of danger when under duress.
"It feels good to go out there, play a lot and help the team," he said. "Either it's 5-on-5 or on the PK. I've enjoyed playing here. I like to help my team."
When the Devils were decimated by injuries and COVID, the club played Siegenthaler between 24-27 minutes a game. And when Hamilton returned to the lineup with his broken jaw, the coaching staff put him with Siegenthaler to ease the transition back.
Now that's a vote of confidence and belief from the coaches.
"Any time you have a player that plays the game the right way, that you can count on in these situations inside your system, it helps the team," Ruff said of Siegenthaler. "It helps the player. I think he takes a lot of pride in his play away from the puck and his defensive play. And he understands that's his role."