Devils Practice with Shrunk Roster | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are practicing at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House inside Prudential Center a day after making several roster moves.

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Practice Group 1

The Devils are on the ice for a 10 a.m. ET practice with a full NHL roster look. Those participating include Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, plus more.

Lines below...

Roster Slim

With the training camp roster skimmed down, the first practice was a close look at what the opening day roster may look like when the regular-season begins.

“It’s exciting,” forward Jesper Bratt said of the NHL group. “It’s been split groups for a couple weeks so it’s good to get out there with the full group, just see everyone all together. It was probably one of the best practices of the year. So, it was a lot of fun.”

That being said, this is still not the final roster as the club has two more preseason games on the slate and decisions to be made.

"I've told them that while decisions had to be made to separate the group today for the efficiency of practice, decisions aren't final both within this week and the season at large," head coach Sheldon Keefe said.

Preseason Finale(s)

The Devils have two preseason games left on the season, Thursday at the NY Rangers and Saturday at the Philadelphia Flyers (the Saturday game had puck drop changed to 12:30 p.m. ET).

Keefe said that the lineup against the Rangers will look similar to the Group 1 practice and Philly will look like the Group 2 practice with some tweaks.

"Everyone, for the most part, will be getting in a game this week," Keefe said.

Practice Group 2

Legare to Stay?

One player in camp that has caught the eye of head coach Sheldon Keefe – and others on the management side – is Nathan Legare.

The former second-round pick in 2019 has great size (6-foot, 200 pounds), speed and skill. He appeared in three games for the Devils last season, and has shown well during training camp with his physicality, compete and offensive abilities.

“There’s no doubt that he has played to his strengths,” Keefe said. “Understanding who you are, understanding what your role is or might be and owning and being a star in that role. I think he’s done that. He’s a guy that we’re talking about daily because of the work that he’s done.”

Legare, 24, has a goal, two points and 10 penalty minutes in three games in exhibition action.

“Whether he starts here with us or not, we’re confident he can play games,” Keefe said.

He Said It:

Jesper Bratt on expectations: "Every year my expectations are high. I think we learned a lot from last year. We all have some fire in the tank about just really how last season went I think we took a step last year but we’re far from where we want to be."

He Said It 2:

Lenni Hameenaho on his first NHL game: "It was really nice experience to play in our first game here at home. It was really nice."