Inside the Devils' Bench: How Positivity, Personality, and a Little Laughter Fuel New Jersey
On a cold Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Sheldon Keefe stood behind the New Jersey Devils bench, watching his team grind through another tight contest. Line after line jumped over the boards, each shift bringing a different look, a different energy. The Devils took a 1-0 lead in the second period and ultimately walked away with a 2-1 overtime win over the Calgary Flames, thanks to a clutch finish from Simon Nemec.
But what stood out most wasn’t just the scoreboard - it was the calm, almost understated demeanor of the Devils’ bench. No yelling.
No fist-pumping celebrations. Just a group locked in, focused, and quietly confident.
“We are not a super vocal group,” defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “Guys aren't really barking on the bench or screaming. Even when we are scoring goals, it is not like we are an overly jubilant team.”
It might sound surprising to fans who expect raw emotion and fire from NHL benches, especially in high-stakes moments. But according to Connor Brown - who’s been to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with the Edmonton Oilers - that kind of quiet intensity is more common than you’d think.
“Obviously, every coach is different, and every captain brings a different type of energy,” Brown said. “Everyone’s personality is different. It’s about understanding the mix of personalities we have, and how our guys respond to get the most out of our group.”
And in that mix, there’s always someone who stands out - the guy who keeps the room light, the bench loose, and the laughs coming. For New Jersey, that guy is Brett Pesce. Just don’t tell him that.
“Me?! No,” Pesce said, genuinely surprised when told head coach Sheldon Keefe had called him the most vocal player on the bench.
He immediately pointed to Dillon, who was nearby, trying to deflect the title. The two shared a laugh before turning to an assistant equipment manager to settle the debate.
“I would say probably you,” the equipment manager said, looking straight at Pesce.
Cue more laughter. Dillon, playing the diplomat, wrapped it up with a grin: “Either way, it’s No. 5 or No. 22.”
Pesce may not have expected the nod, but it tracks. The veteran defenseman, who’s played over 700 NHL games, knows the grind of an 82-game season. He’s made it a point to keep things light, especially when the stakes are high.
“It’s huge because it’s such a long year, and there are so many stresses in hockey,” Pesce said. “I think keeping it light instills confidence in your group.
I’m a big believer in that. When you’re gripping your stick, you’re going to be scared to make a play.
Your game’s not going to be fully there.”
Brown echoed that sentiment. “You want to be relaxed,” he said. “Being happy or making jokes can lead to being a bit more loose, reactionary, and instinctual.”
And that mindset can pay off - big time. Just look back at Game 7 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Devils faced off against the New York Rangers.
While the Rangers’ locker room was tense and quiet, the Devils were outside playing sewer ball, laughing and staying loose. That night, New Jersey came out flying and shut out their rivals, 4-0.
Still, it’s a delicate balance. When a team’s struggling, fans don’t always love seeing smiles and jokes on the bench. But for the players, staying positive isn’t about goofing off - it’s about staying in the fight.
“Sometimes you see guys laughing on the bench and to the fans, those players might look like they’re disengaged,” Brown said. “But it’s a game. You have to be having fun if you want to play your best.”
Pesce knows when the energy starts to dip, and that’s when leadership has to step up - not just from the coaching staff, but from the players themselves.
“Obviously, the coach can help a little bit, which he does, just addressing some structural things,” Pesce said. “But if guys aren’t going, if everyone is kind of lagging behind, you have to drag each other into the fight.”
And that includes Pesce himself.
“Sometimes someone has got to drag me into the fight,” he admitted. “I don’t have it every night - no one does, right?
It’s nice when you hear someone step up and be vocal and positive, or even negative - whatever it is - just to show any type of emotion. It gives a boost to the group.”
Dillon, who’s logged over 1,000 NHL games, understands that not every player responds the same way. Some need a jolt. Others need space.
“You can yell and scream, and some guys react to that positively,” Dillon said. “Some guys go into a shell. I think in between periods is when the adjustments or the actual conversations of what needs to happen or change happen.”
And when mistakes happen - and they always do - it’s about accountability, not blame.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Pesce said. “I make mistakes.
The guys know when you mess up. If it happens a few times in a game, then maybe you say something.
At the end of the day, whatever you say, it’s just trying to help your team win.”
Over time, players learn how to manage those emotions. They grow into their roles - not just on the ice, but on the bench.
Nico Hischier, the team’s captain, leads by example and is always ready to pull his teammates into the fight. Pesce, who jokes that he “doesn’t shut up,” embraces his role as the team’s unofficial vibe manager.
Not every night will be perfect. No team goes 82-0. But understanding the emotional rhythm of a season - when to push, when to laugh, when to lock in - is a huge part of what separates good teams from great ones.
On Monday night in Calgary, the Devils got it right. They stayed composed, stayed connected, and found a way to win. Now, they’ll look to carry that energy into Tuesday night’s matchup with the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
Because in this league, chemistry matters - and sometimes, a little laughter on the bench is just what it takes to spark something special.