BUFFALO, NY - Hockey is back for the weekend as the Devils head into game one against the Buffalo Sabres at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo at Harborcenter. Jack Hughes is expected to make his Devils debut on the first line alongside Jesper Boqvist and Nathan Bastian.
JACK'S READY TO GO
After a busy summer for first overall pick Jack Hughes, he's ready to get going in a Devils sweater in game one tonight.
"It's really nice to get going, summer's over and the hockey season has started. It's nice and I'm ready to get going tonight…This will be my first game with a Devils jersey on, which is really special."
Hughes is slated to play on a line with Jesper Boqvist tonight in his first game as a Devil and said that chemistry is quickly brewing between the two.
"He's fun to play with, he's a guy I like to play with, skilled, really smart, can fly, it's going to be fun tonight."
"He's easy to play with, he's a really smart player, that's step one to building some chemistry, hopefully, we can get it going tonight and keep it going."
FIRST LINE JESPER
Heading into this weekend's Prospect Challenge, Jesper Boqvist wants to prove to the coaching staff that he's built off of last year to become stronger in his game.
"It's the first game today, hopefully, I can show I've built on what I finished last year and that I've been stronger and more excited. Hopefully, I can show that more today."
On being on a line with Hughes tonight:
"If that happens it will be pretty fun to play with him. Obviously he's already a great player and watching him that close will be fun."
Lines at morning skate:
Boqvist - Hughes - Bastian
Clarke - McLeod - Anderson
Gignac - Maltsev - Studenic
Hoelscher - Sharangovic - Speers
Sissons - Smith
Groleau - White
Bernard - Vukojevic
Senn
Schmid
-- Sara Giles, NewJerseyDevils.com