FEATURE: Palmieri Adjusting on the Fly Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Kyle Palmieri is used to adjusting on the fly.

Whether it's a trade, a sudden injury, new linemates, you name it. A hockey player over their career has been accustomed to making sudden adjustments.

But this time, it was different.

"We were getting ready to go out on the ice and have our pregame skate," the Devils alternate captain recalled of the day the NHL hit pause amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. "You don't really know what to expect and I think that was the biggest thing. You weren't going to go off and say your goodbyes to the guys. It was something that we didn't know whether it was going to last a couple days or a week or two weeks and here we are a month and a half later. It was weird because there's so much unknown, and so much uncertainty and I think that goes for pretty much everybody across the world, as far as how you react."

Since the NHL pause, Kyle and his wife Ashlee made their way to Long Island where they spend their summers and are currently in the midst of renovating their home. The couple are social distancing but do have one other familiar face with them. Kyle's father Bruce is with them. All three Palmieri's have been able to keep busy, making the most of their days. Kyle isn't big into watching television, though he does admit he's taken some time to re-watch some of his favorites in The Office and Brooklyn-99, instead, he fills his free time making sure the reno's around his house are finally being completed.

"As far as the most painstaking process, it's painting," he revealed. "We had a lot of painting to do. I hate painting, it's tedious and I make a mess. I have a signature move where I'll paint walls and I make sure I get some paint on the ceiling. So, I would say just about every room I paint has a little roller spot on each ceiling. And I just leave it there."

While painting may not be Palmieri's 'thing',leadership among his teammates and community is one area where his contribution cannot be questioned. This moment of global crisis is no different. He is serious about his social distancing, makes every effort to comply with the rules and regulations, and also sees an opportunity to make sure we are all taking care of one another.

"All you can really do is stay at home and try and stay safe," Kyle promulgated, "and make sure that you're doing whatever you can to support the people who are out there fighting this disease. It's something that it's finding ways to support not only your local businesses but the frontline heroes that have been doing so much for our communities across the world."

He understands all too well the fortunate position he and his teammates are currently in. They're NHL players, hockey players playing in the best league in the world, waiting for their games to be back. Others are nowhere near as fortunate. And while sports and the athletes who play said sports can be the fabric that keeps communities together, it's the front-line workers who are keeping people alive.

"The frontline heroes that have been putting their lives on the line, trying to fight this and protect us as individuals and citizens," he reflected. "[They're] making sure that people can try to return to somewhat normal lives and there's a lot of people who have had been put into really hard situations as far as losing jobs and just being in a dire situation where you don't know what the next week or two is going to bring. In the grand scheme of things, it's something as a hockey player yeah I'm sitting here missing being around my teammates and playing in the NHL but there are people going through a lot worse and fighting for their lives."

Uncertain how or when the league will return, Palmieri is one of two Players Association representative for the Devils. Along with his friend and teammate Cory Schneider, Palmieri has been part of ongoing discussions with the PA and league about what a possible 'return to play' would look like. For now, with nothing official and only public rumors to manage, both representatives keep their teammates in the loop by providing the details of what's going on 'behind the scenes', to keep everyone informed.

Kyle said on that day, Thursday March 12, when the NHL hit pause things "got a little turned upside down." Everyone is now waiting for things to turn 'right-side up', whatever that may look like. NHL players and fans alike await to hear the rhythmic sound of skate's blades hitting the ice, the crashing boom of a body-check, and yes, even a referee's whistle calling a penalty against your favorite player. That day will eventually come, Palmieri knows that. In the meantime, he is focused on what is ultimately the most important in this particular moment in history.

"The people on the front line fighting this every day, [I think about] how much of an unselfish attitude you have to do to wake up every day and put yourself and your families at risk, making sure that people are staying healthy and being supported in a way they can."