Improving Your Devils Trivia Knowledge | 10 TAKEAWAYS

Every week I keep a list of things I want to write in 10 Takeaways.
And every week I try to think of some sort of theme to wrap it all up. This week you might find some answers to future Devils trivia questions, like what date you can circle an important date for rookies on the Devils calendar, or find out which player wore a number for the first time in franchise history. And if you're wondering what prospect Shakir Mukhamadullin is up to over in the KHL? Well I dug some of that up for you too!
So without further ado, here are this weeks 10 TAKEAWAYS, presented by Ticketmaster.

1.

I cannot imagine the week of emotions for Nico Daws. A first American Hockey League (AHL) victory to get the Utica Comets off to the right start, followed quickly by a first NHL call-up and then, perhaps unexpectedly, making his NHL debut and
posting a victory
all within less than a week. The drive from Utica to Newark is roughly four hours. What was he thinking about? Definitely not that he would be making his first NHL start in a couple of days' time. He said the thought didn't really cross his mind.
"
I just got in my car and drove as fast as I could," he said.
What a ride the hockey world can be!

2.

Under different circumstances, Daws would likely still be in the AHL, continuing to hone his craft. Nico has one of the three wins the Comets have posted this season, with Akira Schmid taking over in the net with Daws in New Jersey. Schmid's two appearances for Utica are both victories, leaving the Comets as the only undefeated team in the AHL (3-0-0).
In fact, Schmid has the second-best (tied) goals-against average in the AHL (0.97). And while other teams may have played a few more games, some as many as six, the Comets also lead the pack when it comes to goals against, with just four relinquished in the opening three games.
Success with the farm team is so vital to the NHL club. You're looking at breeding a winning culture and mentality. Players will graduate through the year to the NHL level, some will stay, some will go up and down, but to have that synergy is so important. Kevin Dineen and Lindy Ruff have both mentioned the importance of both clubs following the same paths. What Dineen is preaching in Utica is what Ruff is saying to his NHL group. We haven't seen a call-up other than Daws, and the goaltending position is a bit different, but I will really be curious to see the first skater call-up and how that player integrates. Dineen has said that he is matching the style of play, using similar terminology and language that Ruff is in order to make the process a smoother one and one of greater success when the time comes for a player to graduate to the NHL.

3.

Daws became the fourth-youngest goaltender in Devils franchise history to record their first NHL win. Nico was 20 years, 205 days old when the Devils hosted the Buffalo Sabres, a game the Devils won in OT. Only Martin Brodeur (19 years, 325 days, 1992), Kirk McLean (19 years, 284 days, 1986) and Craig Billington (19 years, 45 days, 1985) were younger.
Only three players in the youngest 15 goaltenders to post their first win have done so in overtime or the shootout. Along with Daws, Sean Burke (OT, 1988) and Keith Kinkaid (SO, 2014) fit the bill.

4.

Just out here helping you put together some new Devils trivia: NicoDaws is the first player in Devils franchise history to wear the number 50.
While technically goaltender Evan Cormier was 50 for the Devils, he never actually appeared in a game and only suited up as a backup. Corey Crawford was also assigned 50, but he too never played a game for New Jersey, retiring before the start of last season.

5.

So, what lessons did we learn in the Devils' only loss so far this season? The way I saw it, this team just cannot afford to take any nights off. There cannot be a loose cog in the machine. It was probably also the firmest I've seen Lindy Ruff in a post-game press conference. It served as a reminder that this year really is different. Everyone is a year older, has all that much more experience and with that the expectations continue to rise. Whereas last year there may have been a little more forgiveness in mistakes, that's not the case anymore. And Ruff has set the tone from Day 1.
"We had some players that played very poor in the first period," he said after the loss to Washington. "You're not going back on the ice or getting as much ice time if that's the way we're going to play. I thought we were better (after line changes). They know what I expect. They should know what they expect out of each other."
I was struck by the different tone that Lindy took after the Washington game, not in a negative way, but just how out worldly disappointed he was in his groups effort. It was projected in a different way than last year, and that no doubt falls under the accountability umbrella that the head coach and general manager Tom Fitzgerald have said they expect from their core.
Ruff shared some insight into holding individual meetings with players, specifically mentioning "second-year players." Yegor Sharangovich was one of them. Jesper Bratt mentioned on Monday how he too had an individual meeting, as some of the core players from last season are still looking to rekindle the offensive touch from last season.

6.

Checking in on the KHL, Devils prospect Shakir Mukhamadullin is out there trading pucks for candy (chocolate to be exact).
He was caught on video over the weekend interacting with a fan prior to Ufa's game, where he swapped out a puck for some candy. Love those little moments! Also, very smart on Shakir's behalf to make sure that the kid tossed him the candy before sending over the puck, can't be duped in a situation like that!

Much respect for the fist bump at the end. I am a big fan of those as
 I mentioned last week.

7.

Congratulations to Meghan Duggan and her wife Gillian Apps! They welcomed their first daughter this week, who joins big brother George! The Devils family is growing! Have a listen to the
Speak of the Devils Podcast with Duggan
from a few weeks back where she talked about what she expects it to be like raising a daughter.

8.

The Devils will certainly
miss Jack Hughes
while he's out of the lineup recovering from his dislocated left shoulder. But I can assure you, for multiple reasons, his opponents won't. Especially those who he goes after with his fancy stick work.
As I'm writing this Jack has played just two games (4.5 periods) this season, and yet he leads the NHL in takeaways (10). That's pretty remarkable considering the next highest is nine by Edmonton's Connor McDavid and he's done that through five games. That ranking for Jack will be sure to change in a hurry, but only because he's not playing right now, but there should be little surprise if when he returns he continues at his torrid takeaway pace.
Last year, he finished in a three-way tie for second-most takeaways with 56. And there he sat alongside some exceptionally talented peers in Leon Draisaitl (EDM) and Connor Brown (OTT). Mark Stone (VGK) lead the league in 2020-21 with 58.

9.

Every two years, since Nico Hischier's rookie season, Oct. 19 has played a big role in the New Jersey Devils schedule. An absolutely strange coincidence, as Hischier (2017), Hughes (2019) and now Dawson Mercer (2021) have all scored their first NHL goals on that day. Just a fun stat you can impress your friends with on a trivia night.

So who does it in 2023?

10.

Some of the best behind-the-scene moments come once Lindy blows his whistle to signify the end of practice. That's where guys are skating around, taking shots at empty nets, and just generally having a good time. But it's not only the players, the coaches do get in on the fun too. And it's a reminder of just how competitive they all are, whether they're retired or active players. This past week I caught a glimpse of Mark Recchi moving in for some breakaway shots on Scott Wedgewood. There's no holding back either, he'll go for his best, most accurate moves that make him one of the greatest goal scorers in National Hockey League history (he ranks 21st on the all-time list with 577).
And then there was Alain Nasreddine, who I think even impressed himself with a move he made on Nico Daws. A backhand, top-shelf goal, and for extra style points skates right off the ice afterward. "I hope you got that on video," Nas said to me as he walked through the player's tunnel.
I didn't. And I'm disappointed in myself. Pics or it didn't happen, that's what the kids say, right?