The New Jersey Devils welcomed back injured players Dougie Hamilton and Connor Brown for full participation in Monday's practice, while Evgenii Dadonov made an unexpected appearance on the ice. Defenseman Ethan Edwards joined the team on his first NHL recall from the Utica Comets. Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided updates on several injuries as the team prepares for the remainder of their road trip.
The New Jersey Devils held a practice session on Monday at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House following two road wins, focusing on reintegrating injured players and incorporating a recent recall. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton and forward Connor Brown returned to full participation after recovering from undisclosed injuries. Hamilton paired with Dennis Cholowski on defense, while Brown skated on a line with Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer. Forward Evgenii Dadonov, sidelined with a hand injury, joined as an extra and rotated with forwards, marking an unexpected step in his recovery.
Ethan Edwards, a 23-year-old defenseman, was recalled from the Utica Comets earlier in the day in a corresponding move that placed forward Cody Glass on injured reserve retroactive to November 12. Edwards skated with Luke Hughes during drills and expressed excitement about the opportunity. In the AHL, Edwards has been averaging over 20 minutes per game, focusing on a defense-first mentality. "Just finding my pro game and solidifying my defense-first mentality," Edwards said after practice.
Brenden Dillon sat out practice as a precaution after briefly leaving the recent game against the Washington Capitals but returned to finish it. He skated on his own earlier and is expected to play Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. "He's expected to play tomorrow," Keefe said of Dillon.
Hamilton reflected on his time away, noting the team's strong defensive play in his absence. "They did really well, and I’m excited to join them back today," he said. He also praised Simon Nemec's recent hat trick. Brown, who missed a couple of weeks, highlighted the team's versatility. "We were winning in all different sorts of ways, and that’s what good teams do," Brown said. Keefe noted Dadonov's progress: "He was a bit of an unexpected participant today... He's a possibility as we get going."
The Devils' injury list remains extensive, including Jack Hughes (hand), Brett Pesce (upper-body), and Johnathan Kovacevic (knee). Keefe emphasized defensive structure and goaltending as keys to their recent success through injuries.