Season's Eve Practice | NOTEBOOK

The Devils hold their final practice prior to opening the 2023-24 season Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings at Prudential Center.

Forward Erik Haula (upper-body, day-to-day) rejoined the team for practice after missing the past few days. 

Stay tuned to the notebook for updates throughout the day on injuries, lineup, interviews, videos and more!

The Devils had a full slate of players for their Wednesday afternoon practice, including Erik Haula (upper-body, day-to-day). Haula has missed the past few days of practice. 

"Erik felt better, skated," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said. "We just have to wait and see how he made out."

The Devils used the following workflow...

The Devils also stuck with their 1a-1b power play configurations:
Hamilton, Holtz, Meier, Mercer, Hischier
LHughes, JHughes, Bratt, Palat, Toffoli

:"We’ve talked since Day 1 about having two units," Ruff said. "So we’ve tried to put all the pieces we have in the best possible situation to succeed. If you look at the way the power play has gone through preseason. I think we’re on the right track. That doesn’t mean some of those pieces won’t change."

THE GREAT ONE(S)

NHL legend Wayne Gretzky paid a compliment to the New Jersey Devils – and Jack Hughes in particular.

“They’re a really fun unique team to watch play,” Gretzky said on ‘At Home with 99.’ “They remind me a little bit of the Oilers teams in the 80s.

“Jack Hughes, he’s been that good and so electric and so dynamic. He reminds me a lot of me in the sense that he sees the ice incredibly well.”

Hughes responded: “That’s pretty cool. He’s the great one. For me, one of the higher compliments I could get.”

HE SAID IT

Ruff on Gretzky: “Wayne and I came into the league at the same time and I ended up 3,500 points behind him. That’s a true story.”

START ME UP

The Devils are on the cusp of opening the regular season. And the excitement is felt inside the locker room.

“Finally,” Jesper Bratt said with a smile.

“One-hundred percent,” Nico Hischier said on his preparedness to begin the year.

And with a new year, not only comes new excitement but new aspirations.

“We had a really good year last year, but we’re a much more motivated group, a hungrier group,” Jack Hughes said. “A lot more expectations inside this locker room. We understand what we need to do now. We’re a much more experienced team.”

The Devils started the day with some big news. The club has extended head coach Lindy Ruff for multiple years. 

“This young, exciting team has developed and thrived under Lindy’s stewardship since he joined the Devils organization,” said Devils’ Managing Partner David Blitzer. “Lindy is one of the winningest coaches in NHL history and his extension is well deserved. I’m looking forward to continued team success this upcoming season and beyond.”

“We’re incredibly fortunate as an organization to have Lindy Ruff behind the bench to guide this group, who’ve made significant strides under his leadership,” said Fitzgerald. “I’ve always believed that Lindy was, and continues to be, the right man behind the bench for this team. From the beginning, he’s done a tremendous job piloting our young group, and we’re excited to see this team’s continued success under his watch as we take the next steps.”

Read the full release here.

DEVILS ON RUFF

Hischier: “His experience helped a lot. He’s been around for so long. It was something we needed. He’s been really patient with us. It turned out it was the right thing to do.”

Bratt: “He’s been great for us. He was here for when we started to turn things around. We’re excited for his extension. He’s been part of this journey for a long time. He set the foundation for the whole team, how all of this started. He was such a huge part of the success we had last year.”

J.Hughes: “(Ruff) came in here and just let me run. He said ‘I think you can be a special player.’ You know how I feel about Lindy. I’m really excited for him, really happy for him. For me, he’s really allowed me to develop as a player and allowed me to be me. He’s allowed me to be myself and he’s empowered me. At the same time he’s coached me hard. He’s the guy that’s gotten me to where I’m at in my career now. I have a lot of respect for him.”