The Devils spent Monday afternoon at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House inside the Prudential Center with one eye on practice and the other on the clock. By 3 p.m., the club had to submit its 23-man season-opening roster, making this the final session before the regular season setup gets locked in.
The opening drills offered a quick snapshot of where things stood. The chemistry between Nico, Timo and Luke Evanglesita looked immediate, and the expected group of players was all present and accounted for. There were no changes from the last preseason game, and Boqvist and Noesen were serving as a fourth defensive pairing.
One of the biggest lineup questions has centered on Anthony Mantha, who has spent all of training camp and the preseason riding alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. The assignment has required more than just getting on the ice and hoping it clicks. Mantha said he has spent time in the film room, in practice and throughout the preseason trying to understand how to fit with two players who already operate with years of shared rhythm.
“You watch clips and try to understand their thinking. They’re just rotating fast and making plays,” Mantha said.
“They’ve played together for many, many years. Their chemistry, they know exactly where each other is on the ice and know exactly what’s going to happen when one has the puck and where the other one is going.
“I’m still trying to learn. Obviously, it’s not perfect yet.
You’re learning every day to position, maybe a good screen for player to get a bump and it opens up a teammate, go to the net, make plays. Name it, I’m still learning.
I’m still trying to figure it out. We’ll get there.”
He also made clear that practice only goes so far in building that kind of connection. For Mantha, the real test starts when the games count.
“It’s a game feel. That’s mostly how chemistry works,” Mantha said.
“It’s finding each other and finding that chemistry during games. Practice is one thing but once game night comes it’s a whole different level.
That’s where it’s built.”
Still, he doesn’t see himself as a piece who just stands around and waits to be fed. Mantha wants to drive play too, and he knows that starts with producing.
“I just need to get open, demand the puck and make some plays once I have it.”
Elsewhere, coach Keefe addressed the new look on the bench and around the staff. With only Brad Shaw and Keefe remaining from the bench group and goaltending coaches, he said the adjustment has been real, but the early returns have been positive.
“Still finding a rhythm a little bit here and there, practices and on the bench and that but I really enjoyed it from a personality point of view and working with the guys and the ideas that they bring. (Brad Shaw) and I being the only two remaining here in terms of our bench staff and goaltending coaches it's been a change and adjustment for me and for everyone and I guess you include the players in that, but I think it's gone well here to date. The more reps you get as coaches in practices and games it’ll be even better.”
Before the day wrapped, the Devils also announced a roster move-heavy morning, placing six players on waivers while claiming Dallas goaltender Remi Poirier.
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