New Jersey Devils: 3 Takeaways From Schedule Release
By Nick Villano
Hockey Is Back
First and foremost, this is one of the happiest days that Devils have had in a long time. Add in the Mackenzie Blackwood extension to the schedule release, and Wednesday was such a good day. The Devils avoid the opening night festivities, and they take on the Bruins on the second day of the NHL’s return.
This means we are less than a month away from Nico Hischier centering the first line once again. We are less than one month away from Jack Hughes putting on 86 to take the ice. The Devils will get to play their home games in the Prudential Center, even if there won’t be fans in the arena to start.
The Devils will be on our televisions for 53 of the next 115 days starting January 14th. This, after 309 days without it. There was a nightly ritual of sitting in front of the TV, putting on the MSG Network, saying hello to Steve Cangialosi, Ken Daneyko, Bryce Salvador, and Erika Wachter, and watching our favorite team hit the ice. Those rituals are coming back.
Devils hockey has an actual return date. There’s no more speculation based on Pierre LeBrun and Elliotte Freidman reports. We’re done wondering when an agreement will happen and when the Devils will return. It’s all signed sealed and delivered. This is a great day.