TRAINING CAMP: Young Players Get NHL Bootcamp Experience

After months off from practices and sanctioned NHL activities, training camp is well underway for the New Jersey Devils. Throughout the team's first five days, players have gone through practices, conditioning, and even a full camp game. Many things look different this year, including the list of attendees according to Devils veteran forward Travis Zajac.
"We're really deep with young talent. I think when you look at our team, its youthful, its speed, its skill. There's a lot of energy, enthusiasm throughout the lineup so I think it's good," said Zajac. "I've been in a lot of camps and I know this one's different but still, you've never seen so much young talent and it's great for the organization to have this going forward. And now it's just about gaining some experience."
This year's shortened training camp without preseason games presents a challenge for every team in the league as they prepare for a season kicking off January 13th. To make sure the Devils are ready for their home opener on January 14th, Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff and his coaching staff have focused this camp to simulate game speed and situations as much as possible. As a result, the young players participating are getting a full-on NHL bootcamp experience in less than two weeks.

CAMP COVERAGE
WATCH LIVE
Watch our Daily Training Camp Show
FEATURED VIDEOS
Full Highlights from Sunday's Game
Amanda's Camp Report
DETAILS: Episode 1
INTERVIEWS
RAW | Zajac
RAW | Subban
RAW | Blackwood
RAW | Walsh
RAW | Ruff
BLOGS & FEATURES
Blackwood Re-Joins Teammates
Keeping It Simple
Young Players Get NHL Bootcamp Experience
All Coverage from Monday
WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils will take Tuesday off and will return to the ice on Wednesday with a Camp Game scheduled for 11:00 AM ET and it will be streamed live once again on NewJerseyDevils.com.
"It's a big adjustment for sure. We've been practicing and preparing for camp this whole time but to be honest, it's hard to prepare for a level this high for the first time," said defenseman Reilly Walsh about the experience of attending this year's training camp. "It's been a lot of fun, the guys have been really good, the coaching staff has been really good. [It's] been hard, but it's been really fun and I feel like each day I'm improving and that's all you can pretty much ask for and I'm excited to come work every day."
Forward Nate Schnarr, who is also competing for a spot on this year's roster, has learned several parts of his game he can continue to improve throughout the first four days practicing.
"I think just my decisions. I think moving my feet more during the play, and then being smarter with the puck, making sure that I'm putting the puck in the right spot and making it easy for my teammates," said Schnarr on what he's learned so far. "It's a really competitive camp. We have a lot of players that are fighting for spots on the team and that's what I want to do. I want to make it tough on the coaches at the end of the day to make a decision, but we have a lot of time at this camp and I'm just enjoying it."
Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff knows the challenges for young players at an NHL training camp, and according to EVP and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald, the head coach checks in with those battling for spots every day.
"I know part of [Ruff's] agenda every day is to talk to young players, whether it's for 30 seconds, 40 seconds, a minute, it doesn't matter. To make them know that they're important and make them feel comfortable," said Fitzgerald in a media availability Saturday.
These check-ins also allow the players who are learning the new systems an opportunity to learn directly from the head coach.
"He just keeps checking up on us after practices, making sure that we're fully understanding the defense on systems and everything that we're learning and making sure that we're involved," said Schnarr. "It's just all about learning and making sure that we're good to go."
Whether these players make the Devils roster or not, this year's training camp has provided them an NHL bootcamp experience that will improve their game in a short period of time. It also shows the bright future of the organization's young talent pool and allows them the opportunity to play together.
"It looks good for the future of this organization as well, to play alongside some of these young stars," said Walsh. "It's a lot of fun and it's something that I'll definitely look forward to in the future."