New Jersey Devils Players Show Mentality Change As Training Camp Begins

As training camp begins for the New Jersey Devils in their 40th season in the league, there is something different about the team this year than in years past. The players have an attitude change about their performance on the ice. It is no longer about the rebuild in New Jersey. It is about winning now and playing meaningful games throughout the entire season as general manager Tom Fitzgerald stated two years ago.

No longer it is about draft picks and stockpiling for the future, the message was clear from the players and general manager after Day 1 of New Jersey Devils training camp, “why not us?”

Devils Players Have Different Mentality Entering Training Camp

The Devils were not happy with the way their season ended last year. Another year of not making the playoffs. Another high draft pick, where they selected defenceman Simon Nemec. But with all the changes the Devils made in the offseason to their roster, there is a belief they can win now.

That comes with a change in the locker room culture. No longer is this a group of just young players growing together. Fitzgerald went out and brought in veteran leadership that was necessary to transform the culture of losing in the locker room. Bringing in winners who have played in the playoffs makes a difference.

“I felt right away from the first skate that we’ve had just a week ago when we were skating with the guys without coaches. I think right away then we could tell the mentality, the players and leadership are different this year. The younger age guys are one year more experienced. We’re getting in a lot of pieces that won a lot of Cups and played a lot of years and that makes a difference in the room to have those voices, said Jesper Bratt to the media as training camp opened. “I think our younger guys are more ready to step up. I think obviously from the past year we’re sick and tired of losing. And we know that the guys that were brought in can’t make a difference and we want to be part of the difference.”

And that is the biggest difference heading into this season. The players are tired of losing.

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Devils Know The Time For Talk Is Over

There is a different vibe around the New Jersey Devils this year with training camp underway. In years past they have talked about the playoffs and wanting to be there. But now, they are also visualizing it and talking more about the process for each game and the season. While they are still looking ahead, the players are focused more on the here and now. They know the work begins now. And in order to have a different outcome, they must put the work in as a team.

Enough of telling people about how this roster is a playoff team and showing this roster is a playoff team. In order to do that, the results on the ice have to be there.

“We just want to be competitive, and take it one game at a time, and one month at a time and reevaluate after the month and stay in the mix,” said Jack Hughes on Day 1 of training camp. “We want to be in the race all year, if we’re in the mix we’ll let our game take care of ourselves but we just have to focus on the month of hockey.”

Leadership From The Top

This mentality starts at the top with the leadership of the team. And entering this training camp captain Nico Hischier is already setting the tone for the season and what result the players should be expecting.

“It is about us, we have to be ready from the start,” said Hischier.

And when asked about what the difference is and why the standards are set so high Hischier responded by saying “We’re just a better team. It is that simple.”

Hischier wrapped up everything by stating “he has got a good feeling” about the upcoming year for the Devils.

There are always high spirits coming into training camp, but from top to bottom the mentality is different with the Devils. From management to the players. The air feels a little different now and the winds are moving in the right direction for the playoffs. They know as their general manager does, why can’t it be the Devil’s time?

“Now is Our Time, Why Wait?” Fitzgerald said to the media after Day 1 of training camp.

As training camp continues for the New Jersey Devils as the team scrimmages to prepare for the preseason, maybe the answers the team was looking for in the room are finally appearing.