First Impressions | 10 TAKEAWAYS

Oh, it feels good to be back in the arena. The cold brisk air fills the practice rink, where you're not sure how to dress. Hot outside, freezing inside. But it's all part of the introduction to a new hockey season. And with everyone back in town and camp officially having kicked off, it's time to re-introduce you all to 10 Takeaways, where every week you can read about the things I've been thinking about, behind the scenes moments, and my favorite quotes from the week.
So, without further ado, here is our first edition of 10 Takeaways for the 2021-22 NHL season, presented by Ticketmaster:

1.

We've seen it more and more over the years, but players coming into camp unafraid to either bet on themselves, or publicly display their confidence. It's like a new-ish breed of athlete, or hockey player in particular, where maybe once we'd consider it 'cocky' or 'selfish.' Not a 'team-first' guy. But the longer you're in the league, the more we're seeing this type of attitude.
And I absolutely love it.
Both Dawson Mercer and Alex Holtz came into camp with no fear.
For starters, Holtz came into his first training camp making this statement:
"I want to be a top scoring winger, of course. That's my main game. I worked on my shot my whole life, so that's what I want to show the fan base and show the staff here, that is what I can bring to the table."
I asked Dawson about his confidence level. And here's what he had to say:
"I think that's a big part of the game. Obviously, if you're confident, you trust yourself. You hold responsibility, that's when you're going to play your best. If you're kind of shying away, having more question marks you're obviously not going to play at the best of your ability.
"So, I like being confident, but I think it comes across in a genuine way, not as people would say cocky, but I think a lot of people respect me for the way that I play and the way that I hold my own ground."

2.

I wasn't sure whether Mercer would have a realistic shot at making the Devils lineup before camp started. And that's no knock on him at all. If you look at him off the ice, he's smaller in stature, and putting on more weight will certainly benefit him in the long run.
But the more I've watched him play - and I realize it's in intra-squad, scrimmage scenarios - the more I wonder whether he'll be the rookie to make it hard for the team to send him elsewhere. I'm not ready to say yet he's having the same impact that Jesper Bratt did a few years back that forced management's hand to keep him in the NHL, but Dawson has been noticeable every time he's on the ice.
In his two scrimmages, he was on the board twice, and there were certainly some learning moments, with a giveaway or two, but that also means he's got the puck on his stick. We've seen how Lindy Ruff is willing to work with young players, give them every opportunity to succeed and managing their mistakes - that was particularly what last season was about.
The media tried to get Lindy to bite on several questions about more young players coming in and making an impact, all while taking the next step as a team. Ruff remained tight-lipped, knowing good and well when he was being asked these questions, they were veiled question about Mercer's potential in making the opening night roster.
Ruff spoke candidly about how the Devils have been put in a position now, with the offseason acquisitions and the development seen by so many young players last year, where the games down the stretch of the season will be meaningful ones. They need to build the roster around that MO. So where could a player with no NHL experience, yet is impressing in camp, fit in?
"We've got to win hockey games," Ruff said, "so that (roster) decision alone will be made by is this player, Player A, a young player, going to help us win games?"
The next question from The Athletic's Corey Masisak provided a golden answer from Ruff.
Corey asked: "Have you made a decision whether Dawson Mercer is that type of player?"
Ruff let out a hearty laugh, and as he was walking away from the podium goes: "Oh, you guys didn't hear? We named him captain!"

3.

What also perked up my ears was what Miles Wood said about Mercer. If there was anyone I'd like to really get a feel from, it would be from inside the room and on the ice. Mercer played with Wood in the second scrimmage, and Wood shared that Dawson wasn't afraid to ask him any questions, and he had no problem answering them. The intonation Wood used at the end of his quote about Mercer was probably the most significant. He believes that we'll see him sooner rather than later.
"There was just a few times where (Dawson), he tried to toe drag at the blue line," said Wood, explaining what advice he gave to the prospect. "I'm sure that works where he was playing, when he was a kid, but those are the types of small things that he's going to have to learn. But you know, it's a small fix and it's a very easy fix for him. You can tell how skilled that kid. He is such a great kid. I've known him here for a week or so, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a lot of him."
That felt pretty significant, to hear that from a veteran teammate.
Tweet from @NJDevils: ���In practice it���s hard to replicate a game situation. I thought our team played well in the game here today.���Hear from Miles Wood after the second scrimmage of training camp. #NJDevils | @InvestorsBank pic.twitter.com/nYDO21SiDS

4.

Speaking of Mercer (I promise I'll talk about other players soon!), his hair is just a sight to behold. It springs out from every hole in the helmet, fluttering in the wind behind him as he skates.
He told me during the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo that he hasn't cut his hair since last Christmas (!!!) and planned to keep it until it was time to take his headshot for the season.
That already happened last week.
The hair is still there.

5.

So far during training camp, we've seen Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves paired together. So that's two guys who stand and 6-foot-6 and 6-5 respectively. When they're standing together, they look like just two guys, discussing whatever it is they're talking about. It's almost unremarkable. But then, sometimes like Jack Hughes or Ty Smith will skate by and you're suddenly struck at just how tall these human beings are (especially on skates). Seeing them standing together, and then suddenly you remember just how much these two will transform the Devils defense on size alone.
For reference: last year, Damon Severson was the tallest regular defenseman, clocking in at a cool 6-foot-2.
Don't take it from me. Here's what Miles Wood had to say about the two defensemen after the second scrimmage they played together:
"It is a nice change to have those huge guys on the back end back there. We haven't had that here in a while, so to look back and see the strength and the size of our D-core, it's certainly puts a smile on my face."
That's a ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one.
I'm very curious to see what type of difference this size on the backend will have on the team. If you take a look at the current roster, which lists all players at training camp, only one is below 6-foot.
Can you take a guess who that is?

6.

Dougie Hamilton almost switched to play forward when he was younger. Thankfully for the Devils that didn't happen, because his presence on the backend is highly anticipated.
But maybe that's also why he has these remarkable stick skills. No more were they on display than in his first scrimmage game overtime this weekend when he was called upon and out on the ice with Jack Hughes and Yegor Sharangovich. I was fortunate to have a front row seat to the moment, my head pressed up against the glass, in the same corner where the play began. I do think I even had a moment where I audibled 'wow.'
To start, it was a ridiculous play of keep-away from their opponents, and then the flash… low in the offensive zone, Dougie went for the no-look pass to Yegor, who deep in the slot tapped the puck in behind Jonathan Bernier.

7.

I like to get to practice early. Most times I'm the first person there and I sit quietly in the cool arena. Those are some of my favorite moments where I can really clear my head or get myself ready for a day.
Sometimes you're also there in time to catch a glimpse of what goes on before practice. This past week goaltenders Mareks Mitens and Nico Daws both skated out early before practice, and next thing they knew two of the Devils greatest were taking shots on them to help them warmup.
Patrik Elias and Sergei Brylin were two of the three shooters working with the goaltending prospects (Ryan Parent, Utica's assistant coach, was the other).

I just kept thinking to myself, how cool that must be.
Also, I was keeping track and Sarge scored on Mitens before Patty did.
Watch the video closely and you'll see the subtle celebration from Sarge!

8.

One of the best behind-the-scenes moments from training camp so far was definitely during the final minutes of regulation time during the second scrimmage.
The game was played on Prudential Center ice, and there were about 30 of us in the crowd from staff and media. In the dying moments, with Alain Nasreddine's team down by one goal, he pulled his goalie and deployed his man-advantage.
Next thing I know, Lindy Ruff, Mark Recchi and general manager Tom Fitzgerald are all shouting from their seats at center-ice. They're in stitches too, because Nas' team had seven players on the ice, one too many even by man-advantage standards. Ruff, Recchi and Fitzgerald were in stitches laughing through it all. And when Nas caught on to the shouting, he too started cracking up behind the bench.
It was this moment of lightheartedness that comes along with what can be a long and grinding training camp schedule.
In the post-scrimmage media press conference with Ruff, I asked him: "What kind of punishment will you be handing down on Alain for his seven men on the ice?"
"I thought it was a brilliant move," Ruff laughed. "I complimented him because he almost got away with it. I said if I was going to put seven, I would have put a couple better players out there."

9.

I had to do a double-take when I saw Travis Zajac for the first time in his tracksuit heading out on to the ice for practice. It was weird, but I'm also keenly aware of how this is exactly how he wants things to be now.
He is completely at peace with his decision, and that it's the right one for him. I was fortunate to spend time with him and his family as I was putting together his retirement story.
There was a levity around Travis. He seemed so content, as if there was nothing left for him to do in this game. Everything now is about his kids and wife, and those kids sure seem excited to have Dad around all the time. Travis feels the same way. There was a joy you could see in just him being there, even when he had to rush his son Zenon off to soccer practice as we wrapped up our interview.
It must feel great to have had such a successful career and walk away on your own terms; because you knew it was what you wanted to do.
Tweet from @NJDevils: From draft day with his dad to becoming one himself. And all the moments in between that were Made in Jersey. Our heartbeat.Our Black & Red standard.Our Devil for life. pic.twitter.com/RrLHhrWyHh

10.

Number 10 I'm leaving to you, the Devils fans. I'd love to know what you all want to see from 10 Takeaways this season. Is it more behind the scenes, perhaps a quote or two I enjoyed? Let me know!