Devils Used Trip To Prague To Their Advantage To Bond & Build Chemistry

The New Jersey Devils began the 2024-25 season overseas in Prague, Czechia.

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Participating in the 2024 NHL Global Series was an advantage for the team, especially for the six players looking to integrate into a new locker room.

"We had kind of a weird setup because we went to a rink, got dressed, and then took a 30-minute bus ride to get to the practice rink," Brenden Dillon said. "You are on the bus chatting with guys and getting to know them. Do they have siblings? Where do they spend their summers? What are they into? What kind of foods do they like?

"We are going to be around each other for the next 250, 300 days, so to get to know those things and talk amongst your wingers, linemates, defensive partners, was invaluable," he continued.

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There is sometimes a misconception that the players spend all their time together when they are in New Jersey, but that is not the case.

"When you come to the rink, it is all business," Tomas Tatar said. "You come, work out, have a video (session), and then you are getting ready to go on the ice. You have practice, and then you leave.

"A lot of the guys have a family, wives, girlfriends, whatever it is. After practice, you go home. The road games are usually where the team is a little more together. To go on a longer trip, like we just did, is perfect," he continued.

In addition to having team dinners in Prague, players branched off into smaller groups to explore the city.

Erik Haula wrote in his blog for NHL.com that he, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier went out and explored. Jesper Bratt shared that he and fellow Swede Jacob Markstrom walked around and grabbed lunch together.

"As hard as it is with the time change and travel, there are positives that come with it, like bonding together," Tatar said. "We had team dinners and spent a lot of time together. It is nice at the start of the season to get the team together, have fun, and talk through a lot of stuff."

Before coming to New Jersey, Dillon only knew Timo Meier, as the two had previously played together in San Jose. The Hockey News asked the defenseman if there was a teammate whose personality surprised him that week.

"You know what? I feel like (Hischier) comes off as super quiet and kind of reserved, but I think he was an unbelievable guy," he said. "He was fun and someone who, at dinners and whatnot, wanted to make sure everyone (was okay). He cares. I am the new guy, and Hischier was helping me around. It was awesome."

Prior to their journey across the pond, Ondrej Palat, a Czechia native, shared how a trip to Sweden in 2019-20 benefited him and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Cup that season.

"That was one of the trips that, I think, helped us win the Stanley Cup," he said. "We had a rough playoff the year before, and the next year, we went to Sweden and spent a week over there. We had some fun with the guys, and it is really important to get the chemistry with the group even off the ice, especially with new faces on the team. Hopefully, we will have an off day there, and I can take the guys somewhere and have some fun."

In addition to bonding away from the rink and having guys like Dillon integrate into the group, the Devils dominated on the ice. New Jersey swept the Buffalo Sabres and left Europe with four points.

"The two wins make it brilliant," Tatar said.

With 80 games to go before the postseason begins, let's see how far a week of team bonding in Prague can take them.

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