The holdover New Jersey Devils provided us some overdue spirited hockey
As the 2024-25 New Jersey Devils prepare to kick off the season in Prague, Czechia, the Devils back in Jersey still have unfinished business to attend to and have impressed in the process.
Throughout the 2024 New Jersey Devils training camp, attention has been placed on who will make the trip to Prague for the Global Series against the Buffalo Sabres. This predicament provided everyone with a clear indication of who would be on the active roster almost a full week before the new season begins. Now, although players locked in a spot have been in Prague for the past few days, the rest of the New Jersey Devils still had three preseason games to play back in North America.
A majority of these players will most likely spend this season and/or a majority of their careers in the minors. Nevertheless, these games allow the players to establish a reputation and become recognized. Boy, they did play like they were playing for something.
While the New Jersey Devils varsity squad practices in Prague in preparation for Friday’s matchup against Buffalo while continuing to get acclimated to the time change and the many things the historical city of Prague has to offer, the Devils junior varsity squad threw their bodies and fists around and skated with passion and intensity for two straight nights on a back to back with the New York Rangers.
On the first night, the junior varsity squad engrossed the lucky fans at Prudential Center for all sixty minutes with their speed and intensity. Following that effort, in the words of Comets Coach Kevin Dineen, the Devils played a “real stingy type game”, pouncing on a much more formidable Rangers club.
Although the second half of the back-to-back series ended in a loss, both games provided fans with some much-needed and overdue spirited hockey. These games might have meant nothing for a lot, but for these few athletes and an organization focused on building a lasting foundational culture, these games were a step in the right direction. If the tenacity, grit, and determination exemplified in these two games against the rivals from Manhattan are a sign of what’s to come, oh boy. Buckle up. Enjoy the ride.
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