DENVER, Co. -The Devils hit the ice at Ball Arena Thursday afternoon for a morning skate ahead of taking on the Avalanche. The team used the following workflow…
Sharangovich - Hischier - Zetterlund
Tatar - Mercer - Bratt
Zacha - Boqvist - Kuokkanen
Greer - McLeod - Bastian
Graves - Severson
Bahl - Hamilton
Smith - Subban
PP1: Hamilton, Hischier, Zacha, Bratt, Bastian
PP2: Severson, Zetterlund, Sharangovich, Tatar, Mercer
Rocky Mountain Return
Devils defenseman Ryan Graves will play his first game in Denver since he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche last season. Though he already faced his former teammates earlier this season in Newark, tonight marks his return to the city he called home for three years.
"It's been good and weird, I guess. It's great to be back. It's nice," he said. "I like this city. I already got over the hump of playing them so that part is not weird anymore. But seeing the city from a visitor's side is a little different. It's cool. I'm happy to be back and be around the city for a day again."
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound blueliner is excited about playing his old teammates and a return to the atmosphere at Ball Arena.
"I'll be excited to play. It's fun to play back in Denver," he said. "Their crowds are pretty loud here. It's always fun to play against former teammates and friends. It'll be a fun night."
Though the Avalanche traded Graves to New Jersey, mostly because the team feared it would lose him in last summer's expansion draft, he has no hard feelings.
"I enjoyed my time here. It was good for me. I'm thankful they gave me a chance to live my dream and get my chance to play in the NHL and show that I belong at this level," Graves said. "I'm happy to be in Jersey and different opportunities that come with it."
Block Party
Speaking of Graves, he had a game-high six blocked shots in New Jersey's 6-2 victory at Arizona Tuesday night. He said that shot blocking is a combination of timing, anticipation and willingness.
"There's a little bit of an art to it. I think everyone is willing depending on the situation," he said. "All guys want to and want to help the team out. But I think there is a rhyme and a reason on how to do it. You have to make sure you're in a lane and know guys' tendencies. Some guys might pull it around or shoot quickly. I think the biggest part is to take away time and space. It's a lot easier to block it when you're close to them."
