Back From Break | 10 TAKEAWAYS

Walking into the Devils locker room after an All-Star break and Bye-Week, there's a certain glow. And it's not just from the tanned faces from time in the sun, but also the glow of rested and relaxed individuals, gearing up for what's next.
The NHL season is an incredible grind, so a bye-week is always welcome. But make no mistake about it, when the time comes to turn the switch, the time comes to turn the switch. And while it may have been a slow start against the Vancouver Canucks, everyone is back into full gear now, as the tans slightly fade.
Please enjoy this new edition of 10 Takeaways, presented by Ticketmaster!

2.

Vanecek was surprisingly a good curler, after his practice run, he had the swing of things.
Sweeping, he was less effective at.

3.

Few can really understand the pressure and the magnitude of being a number-one pick. If you haven't lived it, there seems to be no way to truly comprehend that emotional roller coaster a person must be on. Watching Jack Hughes break out this season - he's third in NHL goal scoring - has been such a delight. But I also know it's easier to get some insight into a player by asking others around him what he's like with hockey players almost seemingly unable to compliment themselves.
So I had this conversation with Nico Hischier a couple of days ago:
"Don't have to talk too much about that, speaks for itself. He's having a tremendous year. It's fun to watch him play, fun to play with him. I think that he's just getting started."
I followed up, asking if Hischier admires the way he handles it all, consistently staying true to himself.
"He's just being Jack, and I love that about him. He's just being Jack and that's what everybody should do."

4.

The giant Hat hat. It's… it's something! Jesper Bratt told me it's actually pretty heavy, ", especially for me, I have a small head!"
Dougie apparently had the reverse opinion telling Erika Wachter on the MSG post-game that it actually fits him quite nicely, "most hats don't fit me, I have a big head."

5.

Did you know that Lindy Ruff and Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstoll go wayyy back? Ruff has told the story before but shared it again today, Lindy's dad used to be the bus driver for Hackstoll in their small Canadian town, which had a population of roughly 400.
Think about that for a second, out of 400 people… TWO have two of 32 jobs available in the entire world.
Insane.

6.

The loss of Hughes is going to be a massive one. But I think having won against the Seattle Kraken was vitally important. Not that there isn't a plethora of talent on the roster, there is, but to instantly come out with a win I would imagine it feels less daunting. That's how I felt. I can only imagine, media in the locker room after that game if it was a loss. The focus could have swayed to what are you going to do without Jack. That's not to say they're going to win every game until he returns, that's not anywhere near realistic, but I think just the optics of winning without him was important. As Dougie Hamilton said, Jack has been "carrying the team".
But it is a team. And they'll have to find ways without him for a bit. And I think they'll be all the better for it.

7.

Being so focused on the sides and top of Vitek Vanecek's mask I forgot to ask him about the back of it when we were interviewing him the other day. I caught him after the Kraken game in the locker room quickly and was able to get an update. The back of his helmet is a lion, which I'm sure we'll get a better look at once he wears the mask in a game.
- RELATED:The Men Behind the Mask | FEATURE

8.

How close has Jack Hughes been to another franchise record? The single-season highest total of goals for a player is 48 by Brian Gionta in 2005-06. With Hughes at the 50-game mark, let's check in to the past:
During Gionta's 48-goal season, he had scored 29 goals by the 50-game mark, while Hughes is already at 35.

9.

When Ondrej Palat was out of the lineup for that 10-plus week stretch, no one was substituted with a second 'A' on their jersey. When Palat was out, I asked Lindy Ruff about that decision. Last year there were substitutes when 'A''s were out. I wrote about it in another 10 Takeaways, but what he said was that between he and the coaching staff, to not name replacements even with the extended amount of time the player was out.
He held true to his word when it came to Hughes. Against the Kraken it was just Ondrej Palat with an A and Nico Hischier with his C.

10.

I love a good pre-practice Sergei Brylin game! I know how bad he does not want to lose, too.