Ten Takeaways: Where to Begin?

Seriously, where to begin? The first week of the season, which opened with two games against Boston at Prudential Center, has prized this reporter with more storylines than there was time to report them. So, I try here to break down what was an eventful first week for the NEw Jersey Devils.
Here are your 10 Takeaways:

1. Ty's Debut

Afirst game, first goal. Anyone would take that storyline. And Ty Smith earned it. By the reaction on the ice, Kyle Palmieri knew it was Ty's goal, but I have to admit I had to take a couple of looks at the replay because that was some pretty crazy luck the way it bounced off two Boston Bruins (one player, twice even) before getting past Tuukka Rask.
"I have no idea how it went in. Think it kind of just went off a couple of their guys and kind of got lucky."
A game later, Smith added an assist and is just the fourth defenseman in Devils history to record his first two points in his first two NHL appearances and the first to do so since Viacheslav Fetisov during the 1989-90 season. Also known as eleven years before Ty was born.

2. Yegor's Magic Moment

I don't need to remind you of the incredible overtime goal that Yegor Sharangovich scored for his first NHL goal the other night. In his post-game media availability, he mentioned Mikhail Gabrovski as the last NHL player from his native Belarus to score a goal in the National Hockey League.
So, I had a look to see where Sharangovich stacks up. He's only one of 13 players from Belarus to play in the NHL, and just one of 10 to have at least one NHL point (with more to come!).
Tweet from @NJDevils: ���Good goal, kid. Do it again tomorrow.��� - Lindy Ruff, probably. pic.twitter.com/ZFrjng21sO
Yegor is also the first native of Belarus to appear in an NHL game since Grabovski's final NHL year which was the 2015-16 season.

3. A New Game

There's a new competition I've scoped out among the team, towards the end of practice. We know Lindy Ruff has made skating laps part of his regular practice routine but now it involves a game element.
It's what I call "Score or Skate Laps" and the pressure is on a singular player, the rest of the team's hopes on his shoulders. Lindy Ruff will call upon a player (so far I'm not sure if there's an actual reason for picking the player), and as a team, they will gather by one net at the end of the ice and the chosen player has one shot to put the puck in the net.
If they miss. Everyone skates laps.
If they don't. Practice is over.
Two players have gone so far, both making the shot. P.K. Subban was the first, then Mackenzie Blackwood was called upon on Monday. He appeared reluctant at first, but went for it, putting away his goalie stick and grabbing a teammate's stick, he took his shot that was as straight down the ice as you'd ever see.
No laps!

4. Miles Keeping His Word

In my first interview with Miles Wood at the start of training camp, I remember him emphasizing the pressure he is putting on himself this season, pressure to be a better player. It seems like he's really taken it to heart as he shot out of the gates in the first two games of the season. His two-goals in two games leads the team, averaging 14:32 time on ice.
Here's what Lindy Ruff had to say about the start of the year for Wood, as he continues to get to know his players even better
"Miles for me is, is really like the grit in the oil that he backs teams off, he gets to the net front, scored another goal tonight, but being in the right spot, he shot the puck quickly. Those are the type of situations that you're going to get inside a game ...] And he's a guy that other teams don't want to play against, he creates his own opportunities just from the speed."
[Tweet from @NJDevils: Miles Wood is an unstoppable force right now and you'll just have to deal with it.🚨: Wood🍎: Smith🍏: Hughes pic.twitter.com/KfbdiCWT3m

5. You Best Believe

One of my favorite quotes early this season? "Lindy believes in me, and I believe in myself a lot."
I'm a big fan of the way Jack Hughes isn't afraid to bet on himself publicly.

6. Waiver Wire

Over the last two weeks, the Devils have used the waiver wire to accumulate depth at the goaltender position. Eric Comrie was picked up off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets and then Aaron Dell was claimed off of waivers from Toronto.
Dell is intriguing, with media reports out of Toronto that the Leafs tried to prevent having to put Dell on waivers, wanting to keep him on their roster that requires three goals at all times.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told TSN's Kristen Shilton, prior to Dell being claimed.
"He's an established goaltender in the league and we knew when signing him it would be difficult to get him through waivers if it came to that," Keefe said. "Now, here we are, and we'll see how it goes for him today."
And now here the Devils are, with a third goaltender that enters the Devils rotation.
Tweet from @NJDevils: 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Wi16WwWcTP

7. What's the Word?

As for Comrie, when I reached out to those who cover the Winnipeg Jets, they had nothing but great things to say about him.
"Really nice kid with the most positive attitude I've been around!"
Yes, I will take that!

8. Casual Conversations

Damon Severson is a pretty low-key guy. So, I guess the way Lindy Ruff dropped the news he'd be wearing an 'A' on his jersey this season was delivered in the most appropriate way, low-key.
"Lindy likes to roam around the room, chat with guys," Severson explained how he found out, "[We were] just having a conversation and he just sort of mentioned that I have a letter on my jersey this year and it was just like a casual conversation."

9. A First for Lindy

Speaking of Ruff, his first win as the Devils head coach on Saturday afternoon marked his first win as an NHL head coach for the first time since 2017 with the Dallas Stars.
His first Devils win was the 737th of his coaching career, the third-most among active NHL coaches, and 45 wins from reaching Al Arbour for 5th overall in league history.

10. We Know Who We Are

Yes, we're only two games in, but I appreciated this quote from Lindy Ruff when asked about 'expectations.' They see what the pundits have said, but they have a much different perspective of themselves.
"I understand when you're asked about expectations, I know where everybody has kind of placed us. But the big thing is if we play for each other and play as a team and play with speed, I think we've got enough speed upfront, we've improved the defense, we know our goaltending solid. I think we can be a highly competitive team, every night."