Devils Return After Break | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are practicing Sunday late afternoon at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House inside Prudential Center. The group returns to the ice following a weeklong break for the bye week and All-Star festivities. 

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Practice Details

Devils forward Tomas Nosek returned to practice with the team for the first time since suffering a broken foot. He hasn't played since Nov. 18.

Injury House Cleaning

Nosek wasn’t the only injury note of the day. Center Jack Hughes and defensemen Brendan Smith and Jonas Siegenthaler skated prior to team practice.

Devils head coach had the following updates on some of his injured players:

• Nosek: “We’ll gauge after practice today how he felt. Take a good look at him again tomorrow and see what he feels like. Probably hear from him first. He’s been skating a lot. To get him in a couple practices, I would anticipate that he’s close to getting ready to play.”
• Hughes: “We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow. I know he’s a lot closer than before. For a date, I can’t really give you a date. It could be soon. It could be a few more days. We haven’t had him in a full practice. That may come tomorrow if things go well today. We’ll move on from there.”
• Smith / Siegenthaler: “I would anticipate we’re getting close with them to getting back to practice.”

Nos(weat)

The Devils have been emaciated by injuries this season. But things are looking up with the return of Nosek to practice. He hasn’t played a game since Nov. 18 with a broken foot.

“It feels really good. Just to be back on the ice with the boys, is good enough for me,” Nosek said. “It’s been a long almost three months. I’m looking forward to being back. I enjoyed being on the ice today.”

The longest previous injury in Nosek’s career was six weeks. So, rehabbing for nearly three months was hard for the seven-year NHL veteran.

“It was challenging, I won’t lie. I have great help from my family and friends,” Nosek said. “It’s the longest I‘ve been hurt since I got to the US. This was new.

“I’m back now. Hopefully, I’ll be good to go.”

Nosek, who began skating in late January, has only played in six games for the Devils this season. However, the club knows what his return will mean.

“We’re getting a guy that’s a good penalty killer, a good veteran player,” Ruff said. “I thought he played well in the preseason. We know what he is. He’s a good two-way guy that can defend against anybody. He has years of experience that can help our club.”

With another practice Monday and morning skate Tuesday, it’s still too early to know if Nosek will be able to return to game action against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night.

“I feel confident. Practice is different than games,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m excited and ready to play a game again. So, ‘yah.’”

DeSimone Says

Last week was quite the whirlwind for Nick DeSimone. On Jan. 25, the defenseman was claimed on waivers from Calgary by the New Jersey Devils. He took a red-eye flight from Alberta that evening to join his new teammates in Tampa Bay for their contest against the Lightning. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the rink in time for the club’s morning skate.

DeSimone did join the team on the flight back to Jersey and it was at least a good introduction before heading into the All-Star break and bye week.

“It was obviously crazy,” DeSimone said. “It was good to meet some of the guys and the staff before the break so I could have a little bit of rapport with everybody. Now I feel like we’re starting fresh. It was good to get a practice under my belt and go from here.”

DeSimone (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) played 23 games for Calgary this season, posting one goal and five points. Ruff compared his play and style to another current Devils blueliner.

“When you look at his game, he’s a lot like a Colin Miller,” Ruff said. “He’s got a good shot. Offensively, you would look at him to help create offense for you. It’s good two-way depth for us.”

For DeSimone, who did rushes with Miller at practice, he still has a lot to learn about his new team and teammates. But that’s all part of the process.

“I’m still figuring out how they play and learning the system,” said DeSimone, who had previously played with Tyler Toffoli (Calgary) and Timo Meier (San Jose system). “Everything is pretty similar anywhere you go, just little nuances. I feel like my best asset is skating and moving the puck, trying to stick to that, defend first and join offensively whenever possible.”

He Said It:

Ruff on Bratt at the All-Star Game: "I think it’s great for him. I think we’re his game was three, four years ago to where his game is at now. I think it means a lot to him to be chosen in Jack’s absence. It speaks volumes of where his game has gotten to."