New Jersey Devils winger Nate Bastian opens up about some of his challenges and frustrations this season, including a rotation of linemates.

"I don't know how many people go through their careers, and their game changes as drastically as mine has. When I was younger, I was scoring goals, toe dragging, and I don't have the skill to do that at this level. It's a matter of knowing your game, believing in it, and finding a way to contribute."

New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian made that statement during his exit interviews in May 2021, after he completed his rookie season in the NHL.

The Kitchener, Ontario native, appeared in 41 games and earned 10 points in his first full NHL season. He carved out a role for himself as a fourth-line winger and brought physicality to the lineup with 136 hits, 47 more than the next player. Head coach Lindy Ruff put him on the team's fourth line with Michael McLeod and Miles Wood, and together, the trio became known as the "Energy Line" or "BMW Line."

Over the next two seasons, Bastian evolved into a key role player in New Jersey. At their best, the "BMW Line" was one of the top fourth lines in the league, making an impact more often than not, whether it was contributing to the scoresheet or adding a physical presence to the lineup.

Fast forward to the 2023-24 season, Bastian is experiencing a new challenge. Wood is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche, and McLeod was recently elevated to a top-nine role thanks to injuries to key offensive players.

It has left Bastian with a rotation of teammates on his line over the past 20 games, including Chris Tierney, Max Willman, Brendan Smith, Tomas Nosek, Alexander Holtz, and Curtis Lazar.

After a recent practice, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News sat down with Bastian to talk about his start to the season and his rotation of linemates.

"I think that if a line is going to get shaken up when guys go down (with injury), it is probably going to be my line," Bastian said. "It is kind of part of the gig."

"In the past, I have been so fortunate with how my line has stayed intact. This is the year that every game, every practice, I have either one new person or two new people, and sometimes I only have one linemate," he said with a laugh. "It's been interesting."

It is a change for Bastian, who was so accustomed to jumping over the boards with Wood and McLeod.

"We had a real identity," he said of the BMW Line. "We weren't the line that was getting shaken up."

He acknowledged that it has been a slow start but that things are getting better, and it is a long year. At the season's quarter mark, he has two points (one goal, one assist). He scored one of the team's five goals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 16, and afterward, he spoke to MSG host Erika Wachter.

"As the season goes on, and you still have yet to find the back of the net, it gets tough," Bastian explained to Wachter. "Personally, I haven't been particularly happy with my own play, so hopefully being able to help out the team today can help myself and my confidence."

Bastian shared that part of his frustration this season has been how many times he has been on the ice for an opposing team goal, which is one of the ways he assesses his own game.

"For me, (everything) starts with not getting scored on, as simple or as crazy as that sounds," he said. "I've been frustrated many times after games this season (because) of being part of goals against."

"If I'm out there and getting scored on, then why would (the coaching staff) even put me out again."

When it comes to contributing to the team, Bastian looks to bring something unique to the lineup that fans won't necessarily see from the team's star players.

"Obviously, I want to make an impact and bring stuff to the table that all of our super skilled top-nine guys don't bring," Bastian explained. "If I can find a way to be physical and be reliable, then that is kind of how I grade my game."

The 6-foot-4 winger pointed out that his role changes game to game, referencing his sporadic time on special teams.

"I'm still grateful for opportunities. When guys get hurt, and I end up on the power play, then maybe I have a little pep in my step, or if they can use me on the penalty kill, that's great too."

When evaluating Bastian's game, one thing to remember is how different his summer was as he focused on his recovery from a major surgery and being ready to go for the 2023-24 season. When it comes to training, he explained that he is a guy who needs reps and pace and needs to push himself, something he did not experience this offseason.

"I skated a little bit with no contact," he said. "Then you show up at training camp with guys who have been grinding for the last two months."

He emphasized that compared to other summers, he didn't even skate. In one of his first meetings with the media during training camp, he revealed that he did not start skating until August and that going from zero to 100 was a challenge.

Bastian was then asked if he feels he is now at 100 percent.

"I feel much better. I don't know if 100 percent is the right (wording) because there are still times when you wake up in the morning, and it'll bite at you. If I were not doing what I was doing, it would probably still hurt every day."

"I pushed it hard. I did so much in such a quick period of time to come back, and I don't regret anything that I did, but if the question is is it hard, then yeah, it is hard."

With all that in mind, Bastian has not shied away from his physical game and has 35 hits through 20 games, second-most among forwards behind Curtis Lazar and third-most among all skaters. The points may not be coming just yet, but he is fighting through the challenges that have accompanied him this season and is still a team-first guy looking to help his club in any way he can.