Devils Open 2025 Training Camp | NOTEBOOK

Summer is over and Devils hockey is back!

The team has unified in Newark for the start of 2025 Training Camp, which opens with on-ice sessions Thursday. There will be two groups hitting the ice (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) with media availability following. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald and head coach Sheldon Keefe will hold a media conference around 3 p.m. which will be live streamed on the Devils website.

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Jack's Mental Refresh

Jack Hughes met with the media today. He talked about the mental hardship of his season-ending shoulder injury from last year.

“Enjoying life outside of hockey. Enjoying myself being at home with my friends and my family,” he said. “Then when it’s time to dial in, be ready to go, be excited for the year. That’s what makes things great. You start to miss the game, and you want to work harder when you come back.”

Full story here.

House Cleaning

The Devils provided the following updates on status for several players:

• Jacob Markstrom is not participating in practice today (personal/family reasons)
• Stefan Noesen has a groin injury. The injury pre-existed from last season and was re-injured late in the summer. It required a procedure and he's expected to miss some time.
• Shane Lachance and Lenni Hameenaho suffered injuries in Buffalo during Prospects Challenge. The team is monitoring and both skated this morning.
• Johnathan Kovacevic underwent knee surgery over the summer and will miss an extended period of time. He is out indefinitely.

Group 1 Practice

Group 1 is highlighted by Jack Hughes (returning from a shoulder injury), Jesper Bratt, Evgenii Dadonov, Brett Pesce, Brendan Dillon and Jake Allen. Judging by early workflow, Hughes is skating with Bratt and Dadonov.

Bratt on Dadonov: "He's such a smart player. Me and Jack were watching him do his thing out there. It's a really exciting player to play with. He's been in the game for such a long time. He's got a lot of routine under his belt. Me and Jack are going to learn a lot from him. We're excited."

Hughes on Dadonov: "That was fun. We were snapping it around a bit. I don't know him too well, but I'm sure we'll get to know him over camp here."

Head coach Sheldon Keefe on Dadonov: "He's been a solid complimentary player in the league for a number of years. Playing with two guys like Jack and Bratt, they're two guys that are puck dominant. They have it a lot. Dadonov has the ability when the puck comes to him to make a play. When you watch all his goals, he has a real knack of scoring in and around the net."

Practice Group 2

Devils Group 2 has Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer and Dougie Hamilton. The used the following workflow...

Takeaways from Fitzgerald and Keefe Press Conference

Fitzgerald on the team’s expectations: “Everybody’s goal is to win the Stanley Cup. But to do that you have to have the right process … We have the talent. We have the determination, the passion, the competitiveness, we have that in our room. Guys are saying the right things and doing the right things but it's just putting it together for long stretch versus small stretches."

Fitzgerald on extending Jacob Markstrom: “He chose us. We’re talking right now on extending him. We would love nothing better than to have him be here beyond this year. He knows our love for him, and his love for this area.”

Keefe on entering Year 2 with the Devils: “You’ve been through the fight with the guys for a year. You have greater sense of where they’re at and where the group needs to go to. I was trying to educate myself as much as a I could when first arriving for my first training camp a year ago. Now, it feels like home. There’s a great sense from the players of what to expect from me and what I can expect from the players and how we can help each other get better.”

Keefe on Arseniy Gritsyuk: “He’s got an NHL body for me. In terms of his size, he’s bigger and stronger than I was anticipating. We can tap into that. While there’s lots of comments about his shot, there’s been an equal number of comments of his ability to make plays and pass the puck. There’s lots to like there.”

Keefe on adding Brad Shaw to the coaching staff: “He’s been tremendous. Up until today it’s been just the coaching staff and our own internal discussions. He brings great value. He’s got tremendous experience in the league, lots of great perspectives. He’s been a head coach at different times both in the minors and the NHL. He’s worked under some incredible head coaches, some of the best that have been in our league for decades. You can see that with the confidence that he has and the experience that he has.”

Second Installment

The Devils open their second training camp under head coach Sheldon Keefe Thursday morning. Last year, general manager Tom Fitzgerald said his team experienced some “sticker shock” at how difficult and demanding Keefe is. The players feel a lot more comfortable heading into this second camp.

“The drills are similar. We know what type of game he wants us to play,” Jesper Bratt said. “He knows what type of players we are and what we bring to the table. It’s a good thing to come in with more confidence on both parts and we know what work needs to be done.”

“I know him now. We have a relationship,” Jack Hughes said. “It’s nice to come in here and know what to expect from him and he knows what to expect from me. I come in knowing what he wants out of me.”

Grinding Nemo

Devils defenseman Simon Nemec took advantage of having “the longest summer in four, five years” to train. One of his biggest keys was bulking up his body and playing with more strength.

“The training was harder and more hours. I feel better right now,” Nemec said. “I feel stronger on the ice, but every guy is strong here. We’ll see how it goes in preseason.”

Head coach Sheldon Keefe certainly noticed.

"Nemo to me, it's very evident that he's had a great summer and put in the work," Keefe said. "He's learned a lot over the last year and came in much more prepared this time around. He recognizes the opportunity here with Kovacevic being injured long-term."

Nemec played his best last year during the playoffs, which included scoring the double-overtime playoff winner in Game 3. His goal this camp is to carry that play into the start of the season.

“I have to move my legs more. If I’m moving my legs my game is better,” Nemec said. “And I want to be more physical.

“Closing guys earlier, being more physical around the net and don’t give up stupid goals.”

Pound for Pound

The hot summer tea regarding Devils captain Nico Hischier is that he added muscle over the summer. Although, when asked, he set the record straight.

“I've been more or less the same weight the last three of four years," Hischier said. "I haven't changed much. That's all I can say. I've. been the same weight the last three years."

He Said It:

Jack Hughes on the Devils' off-season moves: "We have our core set right now so you’re not really doing big moves but trying to round out the pieces and bring some good players in. I think we did a good job. Guys with a lot of playoff experience. It should help us this year."

He Said It 2:

Brett Pesce on initial impressions from Day 1 of camp: “The speed. We’re a fast group, competitive group. You don’t have much time with the puck, even in practice. It makes my life harder, but easier in the games.”

He Said It 3:

Timo Meier on the Devils taking the next step: "Daily habits of what it takes to win and not doing things that block you from doing that. The way we prepare, the way we behave as a group, all those things that pile up and bring consistency to our game."