MORNING SKATE RECAP
NEWARK, NJ. - The Devils held an optional morning skate at Prudential Center ahead of facing the New York Islanders in the final game before the Olympic break.
Among those taking part was the newly acquired Nick Bjugstad, who joins the team via trade on Wednesday.
Captain Nico Hischier (illness) and Connor Brown (maintenance) did not skate on Wedsday but were back today.
Joining Bjugstad, Hischier and Brown on the ice were forwards Jesper Bratt, Arseny Gritsyuk, Lenni Hameenaho, Marc McLaughlin, Paul Cotter and Luke Glendening, defensemen Brenden Dillon, Jonas Siegenthaler, Johnathan Kovacevic and Colton White and goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Bjugstad will play in place of Glendening and goalie Jake Allen will make the start.
DEBJUG
The Devils are welcoming a new face to the lineup with Bjugstad. He was acquired Wednesday from St. Louis. The team was actually in Dallas at the time and in the middle of their Fathers’ Trip when he was told.
“I was pre-game skating in Dallas yesterday and got pulled into the office. I got the news,” he said. “My dad and I hopped on a flight and got here late last night. I’m really excited to be joining these guys.”
The first thing you’ll notice with Bjugstad is his size. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, he towers over everyone in the room. The 33-year-old has played 13 NHL seasons and nearly 800 games.
“He’s a veteran player. He’s been in the league a long time,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s a big guy. We can use more size in our forward group, so certainly that helps.”
Bjugstad will slot in as the fourth line center in place of Luke Glendening.
“It increases our depth at center ice. He’s a versatile guy. He can help on special teams, he can play the wing as well,” Keefe said. “Talking with him this morning, he’s got a good attitude about it. He’s excited and happy to be here despite the quick turnaround. It’s good to see him comfortable in the room. That comes with being a veteran and a guy that’s played in different organizations. It’s a good addition. It helps us in our lineup and particularly at the center ice position but we also like the versatility.”
Bjugstad has played with several organizations, Florida, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, Edmonton and St. Louis. He’s excited about a new start joining the Devils.
“It’ll be a fun experience. This is a great team,” he said. “We played them earlier in the year. It’s a fast team, a lot of depth. I’m just excited to be joining them and contribute in any way they want me it.”
For Bjugstad, his focus is always in his own zone of the ice and then hoping to build off his game from there.
“I want to play well defensively and be good on faceoffs, contribute in that end,” he said. “But if I can chip in offensively as well and hold onto pucks, that’s when I’m playing my best. Wherever they see a fit for me. I’ve played all differed roles in my career. It starts in the D zone with me, and I try to work my way up.”
Though he isn’t new to being traded, every trade comes with a new experience.
“Any time you go to a new team you want to start off on the right foot,” he said. “From a team perspective you want to come together as a group. I’m just learning names and it’s still early. I’ll have to get my feet wet tonight. This is a team that’s not out of it, I don’t believe. I definitely think we can make a push here.
“This locker room and depth chart, seems like the right personnel. When we played them in the beginning of the year it was one of the faster teams we’ve played against. I have confidence. I definitely was excited it was New Jersey that called. Hopefully, I can insert myself and acclimate easily.”
LOCK IN
The Devils will head out for their Olympic break following tonight’s game. The Olympians will leave right after the game for Italy while others will be leaving shortly after for their vacation.
The job of the coaches is to keep the focus on tonight and what happens after.
“This is a challenging game for everyone around the league,” Keefe said. “You have a mix of guys here, we have seven (Olympians) that have flights right after the game. Other guys have their bags packed to head somewhere warm. You have to park all of that.
Considering the stakes and the team’s current circumstances, there should be no problems focusing.
“It should be easy for us to do so given the way things have gone for us, the opponent here tonight and where we’re at, the standings and such,” Keefe said. “I’m expecting a good effort. But I felt good about our effort in the previous games but we have to sustain it, we have to play 60 minutes. We’re going to have to be at our best.”
LUKE UPDATE
Keefe noted that Jack and Luke Hughes and other injured players skated on the team’s practice ice during the morning skate. And added that Luke will continue to rehab over the break and could be close to practicing when the team returns later this month.
“Luke has had a few skates and I see him in the gym regularly,” Keefe said. “The expectation is he’s going to continue to rehab over the break, skating. The hope is all continues to progress well and when we come back and start practicing that he’ll be very close if not in the group practicing and preparing to play shortly there after.”
