Arseny Gritsyuk #81 of the New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
New Jersey Devils rookie Arseniy Gritsyuk didn’t wait long to make an impression in the NHL. After going scoreless in his debut against the Carolina Hurricanes, the 23-year-old Russian forward picked up two assists in his second game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday – a sign that his adjustment to North American hockey is moving quickly in the right direction.
“I was a bit tense after my first game,” Gritsyuk admitted after the Devils’ matchup with the Lightning in an interview with RG Media. “I couldn’t convert a few good chances in Carolina, and I didn’t play much there. But today I got more ice time and was moved up to the third line with Connor Brown and Cody Glass. They’re great linemates – I understand what they’re trying to do, and I know what I need to do next to help them.”
Gritsyuk set up both of Brown’s goals, earning his first two NHL points and finishing the night with a plus-1 rating and three shots on goal. “I really wanted to score on [Andrei] Vasilevskiy, but he got the better of me today,” he smiled. “In the third period, I was more focused on helping Connor get his hat-trick goal rather than scoring myself. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I’m still happy we played well.”
Adjusting to NHL Speed and Style
The Yaroslavl-born winger says he’s still adapting to the NHL pace and style.
“There’s a lot to improve,” Gritsyuk noted.
“The season has just started, and I’m getting used to everything – especially the defensive zone. The game here is a bit different. The language barrier also plays a role; sometimes I can’t find the right English words to shout something to my teammates. But the guys are supportive, and I’m slowly getting used to it. We talk a lot on the bench, and I feel I’m starting to earn more trust.”
Gritsyuk says the Devils’ dressing room is a welcoming one.
“We have a really friendly group; everyone talks to everyone,” he explained. “The mentality is a bit different from Russia – back home, we often had team dinners, but here everyone usually eats on their own. So I hang out with different guys on different days. Everyone’s supportive. After my first assist, all the guys came up and congratulated me in the locker room – that meant a lot.”
Learning from Experience and Veterans
Looking back at his first game against Carolina, Gritsyuk admits the moment got to him.
“Honestly, I was completely lost,” he said. “The preseason went well for me – I got a lot of ice time, even played on the top line and in all situations. But official NHL games are a different story. The pace, the pressure… everything happens so fast. Carolina was a tough opponent, and I was disappointed with how my debut went. But the guys came up and said, ‘Don’t worry – they’re a strong team, it’s always hard to play against them, especially on the road.’ They reminded me that even the Devils had lost there three years in a row.”
Gritsyuk credited veteran forward Evgenii Dadonov – currently sidelined with an injury – as a key figure in his adjustment.
“Evgenii’s been helping me a lot,” he said. “We sit next to each other on the bus. Unfortunately, he’s hurt right now, so I guess I’ll have to start improving my English more actively,” Gritsyuk joked.
Life on and off the Ice
Having spent three seasons with SKA St. Petersburg, Gritsyuk sees clear differences between the two leagues.
“The pace is faster here, and the hits are harder,” he said. “But everyone’s still human. The main difference is the level of players – in the KHL it’s more even, while here you’ve got guys like [Nikita] Kucherov and [Brayden] Point. Against players like that, you focus more on defense because one small mistake can cost you – and you might find yourself benched for a while. In the KHL, you have more room for error.”
Despite the promising start, Gritsyuk admits life off the ice is still in transition.
“My family will arrive soon – that should help a lot. I haven’t even unpacked my suitcase yet,” he laughed. “Once everything settles down, I’m sure things will get easier.”
The Devils’ newcomer added one last note with a smile: “We haven’t had the rookie dinner yet – and honestly, I’m scared… or rather, scared of how big the bill might be.”