Devils Notebook: Training Camp Groups; Absentees; Injured Defenseman Skates

Day one of the New Jersey Devils’ training camp revealed a lot. We got a look at some of the newbies, what some lines could look like, and anticipated updates on injuries.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe issued an intense practice, bag skating each of the two groups before they even participated in a single drill. After a 40ish-minute break, the groups re-emerged for practice drills in an equally high-paced practice.

The best news of the day? It looked like Simon Nemec was a full participant in drills.

Here’s who skated in each group:

Devils Group 1

Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Simon Nemec, Jonas Siegenthaler, Jacob Markstrom, Curtis Lazar, Paul Cotter, Johnathan Kovacevic, Nathan Bastian, Kurtis MacDermid, Justin Dowling, Chase Stillman, Samuel Laberge, Xavier Parent, Cam Squires, Santeri Hatakka, Jakub Zboril, Mikael Diotte, Jackson van de Leest, Nico Daws, Tyler Brennan

Devils Group 2

Tomas Tatar, Ondrej Palat, Nolan Foote, Nico Hischier, Kevin Labanc, Shane Bowers, Stefan Noesen, Ryan Schmelzer, Max Willman, Brian Halonen, Filip Engaras, Mike Hardman, Dougie Hamilton, Colton White, Nick DeSimone, Brenden Dillon, Topias Vilen, Seamus Casey, Will MacKinnon, Andy Welinsky, Jake Allen, Isaac Poulter, Jeremy Brodeur

Group 1 Devils Lines

Forwards

Timo Meier — Jack Hughes — Jesper Bratt

Paul Cotter — Curtis Lazar — Nathan Bastian

Kurtis MacDermid — Justin Dowling — Chase Stillman

Cam Squires — Samuel Laberge — Xavier Parent

Defenseman

Jonas Siegenthaler — Johnathan Kovacevic

Santeri Hatakka — Simon Nemec

Jakub Zboril — Daniil Misyul

Jackson van de Leest — Mikael Diotte

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom

Nico Daws

Tyler Brennan

Group 2 Devils Lines

Tomas Tatar — Nico Hischier — Kevin Labanc

Ondrej Palat — Shane Bowers — Stefan Noesen

Nolan Foote — Ryan Schmelzer — Max Willman

Mike Hardman — Filip Engras — Brian Halonen

Defensemen

Brenden Dillon — Dougie Hamilton

Colton White — Nick DeSimone

Topias Vilen — Seamus Casey

Will Mackinnon — Andy Welenski

Goaltenders

Jake Allen

Isaac Poulter

Jeremy Brodeur

Devils Absences

Dawson Mercer wasn’t the only one missing from the first day of on-ice training camp activities on Thursday. Forward Erik Haula was absent due to an illness. General manager Tom Fitzgerald said Haula should return to the team tomorrow.

Defenseman Brett Pesce was missing, too, and that news was less optimistic. Pesce is still recovering from a lower-body injury in which he had surgery on earlier this summer. He’s considered week-to-week.