MORNING SKATE RECAP
KANATA, ON - The Devils held an optional morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata. Forwards Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt – all of whom missed Monday’s practice session – were on the ice.
Hischier was given the day off but Meier and Bratt were given maintenance days. According to head coach Sheldon Keefe, both Meier and Bratt are “good to go.”
The optional skate was well attended. Aside from Hischier, Bratt and Meier, the Devils also had Ondrej Palat, Dawson Mercer, Dougie Hamilton, Brenden Dillon, Paul Cotter, Cody Glass, Angus Crookshank, Juho Lammikko, Colton White, Dennis Cholowski and Jake Allen.
Keefe met with the media following the optional skate. Here’s what he had to say…
On Arseny Gritsyuk’s defensive game:
I think he’s done a good job. He’s been pretty consistent. I think with a lot of first-year players, you can see that the demand of the schedule can take a little wind out of his sails at different times. You can see that. He doesn’t have the same type of jump offensively and defensively, and the pop in his stride. Overall, he’s been a guy that when he’s on the ice he’s driving things in a positive direction for our team. Part of that is he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes defensively. He has the speed and strength to get into spots to win puck battles or deny the middle of the ice. He continues to be a real solid player for us. Early in the season he was flying, and lot of things were happening. We’ve had to manage some of his minutes and making sure on the off days he’s taking care of himself because it’s a lot, especially when you’re coming through that for the first time.
On getting a strong start:
Sometimes it’s hard when there’s another team on the ice. They’re trying to accomplish the same thing. The Columbus game we had last week was a perfect indication of how we want to start a game. In a perfect world where you can draw it up, that’s it. It’s hard to replicate that. The other team is playing too and they’re going to make it harder for you. That’s the mindset. We want to start fast all the time. At the same time you have to recognize that it’s a 60-minute game and you have to be consistent with it. We ended up losing that Columbus game after getting a 2-0 lead and establishing our game. All of that is really important. It’s having the resilience to be good for 60 minutes. It’s easier to be good for 60 if you’re good in the first 5.
On Hamilton showing more offensive pop:
He’s attacked a lot more, shot the puck a lot more. We’re encouraging him to do so. He’s jumping in. The one he rips off the bar the other game is vintage Dougie in terms of attacking, coming downhill, having some space to attack, taking it and ripping it. That could have been a game-altering moment for that puck to fall for us. Good signs from Dougie in that way. He also had some shots from distance that he’s getting to the net. Those can help us create more as well.
On Dawson Mercer:
I think Dawson has been good. His numbers have been good. That pace has dropped off here of late, but he continues to be a guy that does everything for us. He’s done a good job in the middle of the ice. Even though we and he feels he’s better on the wing, but he’s done a good job for us in the middle of the ice when we really need it. Defensively he’s been good. Power play, penalty, he’s been a strong contributor for us. He’s done a lot of things well. Through 30 games here now, you feel good with what he’s brought forth and can build on the rest of the way.
