NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils are only one day away from boarding a plane and heading to Europe to open their 2024-25 season against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia.
After an off day on Saturday, the club will have one final practice at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House before looking ahead to the regular season.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has had his work cut out for him. He spent the past week teaching his team a new system and learning about the players who will eventually make up his roster.
Related: How Sheldon Keefe’s Family Impacted His Decision to Join the Devils
Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News is emptying her notebook and sharing some quick thoughts and observations from her past week in Newark.
Learning Systems & Finding Chemistry Takes Time
Participating in the 2024 NHL Global Series has a few disadvantages for the Devils. Keefe had one week and four preseason games to implement a new system and integrate new players into his lineup.
There has not been enough time, and the team’s lack of chemistry has been evident in their preseason games. The team’s anticipated third line of Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Stefan Noesen only played one game together due to Haula dealing with an illness. Star forward Jack Hughes also only appeared in one game. All the pieces haven’t entirely connected for New Jersey, but some things take time and reps.
Mr. Congeniality: Johnathan Kovacevic
General manager Tom Fitzgerald said it was a bonus that the players he brought in this summer had a reputation for being great team players and great people. One player who has caught the attention of his teammates is Johnathan Kovacevic.
“(He’s) just a happy-go-lucky, easy approachable guy,” defenseman Brenden Dillon said of Kovacevic. “I think we’ve got a lot of good people in this locker room, Johnny being one of them.”
“Kovacevic comes here, and you meet him and hang out a few days; he is the best guy,” defenseman Nick DeSimone added.
Related: Kovacevic Looks to Bring His Physicality and Hard Defensive Game to Devils Blue Line
When The Hockey News told Kovacevic how highly his teammates have spoken about him, he couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s good to know,” Kovacevic said with a laugh. “I’ll keep doing my thing.”
On the ice, the depth defenseman has performed exceptionally well and has been one of the Devils’ most consistent defensemen throughout the shortened preseason.
The Potential of the Cotter – Lazar – Bastian Line
For training camp, Keefe put Paul Cotter, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Batian together, and the trio is already proving how important they will be this season. It has the makings of an impactful fourth line that can be reminiscent of the BMW Line.
Despite only being a week, the trio have already received praise from their head coach.
“Those guys have been working so incredibly hard and are bringing up the level of the group,” Keefe said.
Assessing Casey’s First Camp
Seamus Casey, 20, is experiencing his first NHL training camp after signing his entry-level contract on May 6, 2024. The young defenseman made his preseason debut against the Montreal Canadiens and did not necessarily stand out in the practice groups and scrimmages until that game.
However, in his games against the Canadiens and Washington Capitals, Casey took advantage of his opportunity so much that he made a case for himself to be on the team plane to Europe.
After a slower start to camp, Casey showcased strong skating and poise. Whether he makes the opening night roster or starts the season in the American Hockey League, he has set a solid foundation for his first season as a pro.
Related: Devils’ Rookie Seamus Casey Ready to Be a Pro
Players Praise Keefe for Open Communication
One common theme among the players the past week is that Keefe is an excellent communicator.
“He is direct,” Cotter said. “He’s very direct with what he wants and what he expects. (…) I think it is awesome being under a coach like that. He expresses that if a player wants to talk to him, he is more than welcome to come in and chat.”
It is not a surprise that communication was at the top of Fitzgerald’s checklist when finding a head coach, as he previously said, “Negative feedback, positive feedback, constant feedback. The players crave it. They want it. Communicating upwards, communicating with management, communicating with our managing partners.”
The Devils will play two games in Prague against the Sabres, with the first one scheduled for Oct. 4.
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