Here's a recap of the latest Devils' news and notes.
NEWARK, N.J. -- Happy New Year, New Jersey Devils fans!
It's a new calendar year, and the second half of the 2023-24 season is quickly approaching. The club is off today after having select players skate yesterday. Below is a recap of some of the biggest headlines from the past few days before the team hosts their first practice of the 2024 calendar year on Tuesday.
New Jersey Devils Headlines
- Per NHL PR, Luke Hughes became the sixth defenseman in the last 20 years with a three-game goal streak at age 20 or younger. The others are Owen Power, Mikhail Sergachev, Rasmus Ristolainen, Oliver-Ekman Larsson, and Cam Fowler.
- Timo Meier could not finish the team's last game versus the Boston Bruins. He played one 16-second shift in the third period before heading down the tunnel to his team's locker room. After the game, head coach Lindy Ruff said, "(He is) being evaluated. We will see when we get back to New Jersey."
- Brian Halonen was activated off the Injured, Non-Roster list and assigned to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League on Dec. 30. The winger has been out of the lineup since training camp with a lower-body injury.
Former Devils Appearing in Winter Classic
On Monday afternoon, the 2024 Discover Winter Classic will take place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, featuring the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights.
Two former Devils players, Tomas Tatar and Adam Larsson, will participate in the game.
The Swedish defenseman was selected from the Oilers at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft by the Kraken and immediately signed a four-year, $16 million contract. The father-to-be serves as an alternate captain.
Tatar, 33, has only appeared in six games for Seattle this season. To start the 2023-24 season, he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche, reuniting him with former Devils teammate Miles Wood. After appearing in 27 games and earning nine points, Tatar was traded by the Avalanche to the Kraken in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick on December 15.
Larsson did an interview with NHL Tonight on New Year's Eve, and in addition to talking about the game's location, he shared that his mom would be in attendance.
"The whole stadium is unbelievable, from the locker room to the setup on and around the ice. I think they did a great job," he said.
Schmid's Performance in Utica
On Dec. 28, the organization announced that goaltender Akira Schmid was assigned to the Comets after appearing in 15 games, starting 13. He has a 5-7-1 record, averaging 3.26 goals against, and has a .893 save percentage.
In Utica, he has appeared in two games and has one loss in regulation and another in overtime. Schmid currently has a goals-against average of 3.36 and a save percentage of .896.
In Case You Missed It
- Devils' Akira Schmid Assigned to Utica Comets
- Devils' Recall Goaltender Nico Daws From Comets
- Devils' Nico Hischier Reaches 300-Point Milestone
- Former Devil Damon Severson Appreciative of Time in New Jersey as That Chapter Officially Closes
- Devils' Dad Andreas Schmid Earns First Star of Team's Dad/Mentors Trip
- Devils' Super Buddies McLeod and Bastian's Careers Continue to Be Intertwined
- 3 Things the Devils Need to Address as The Second Half of the 2023-24 Season Nears
- Stilettos & Stouts: John Gibson & The Devils