The New Jersey Devils are back on the ice after the Olympic break, gearing up for their matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday evening. The team welcomed back key players Simon Nemec, Jacob Markstrom, and Nico Hischier to practice on Tuesday, setting the stage for a strong return.
However, not all Olympians were present. Jack Hughes was in Washington, D.C., attending the State of the Union address.
He's expected to reunite with the team on Wednesday, just in time for the game. Head Coach Sheldon Keefe shared insights into Hughes' travel plans, expressing hope that everything will be sorted by Wednesday morning.
Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler also missed practice due to weather-related travel delays. Keefe assured fans that both players are en route and should arrive shortly, ready to hit the ice by game day.
In response to the returning players, the Devils made several roster adjustments. Forward Dylan Wendt was assigned to the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, while defenseman Dennis Cholowski was sent to the Utica Comets in the AHL.
The Devils are set to face off against the Sabres at the Prudential Center, with the puck dropping at 7 pm ET. It's a crucial game as the team looks to build momentum post-Olympics.