This was certainly the kind of injury update the New Jersey Devils needed.
A trio of injured Devils stepped onto the ice this morning at RWJBarnabas Health practice facility, as New Jersey got to work on Monday morning.
Connor Brown was first to return, followed by Dougie Hamilton, and then Evgenii Dadonov, all of which have been out several weeks or more.
“They look good, they feel good,” Sheldon Keefe told Devils media on Monday. “They’re going to travel with us. As will Dadonov, who was a bit of an unexpected participant today. While we were away last week, he just got better and better… He’s going to come along as well, given it’s a three game trip. He’s a possibility as we get going.”
Dadonov played just one game with the Devils and has been out since Oct. 11th. Brown and Hamilton have been sidelined since Nov. 1st and 8th, respectively.
All returning forwards were in regular practice sweaters.
Despite Dadonov’s presence, he skated as the extra forward in drills.
However, Brown returned, and instantly slotted into the Devils’ top-six. Hamilton also lined up as a regular in drills, on the right side of Dennis Cholowski.
Ethan Edwards took to the ice as well, skating alongside Luke Hughes. It appears his recall is more of a reinforcement for Brenden Dillon, who was absent on Monday morning.
Dillon left Saturday’s game for the Devils’ locker room for an undisclosed reason. He did, however, return to the game.
The Devils explained he is expected to make the road trip, however.
Devils Practice Lines 11/17/25
Forwards
Arseny Gritsyuk – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier – Dawson Mercer – Connor Brown
Ondrej Palat – Juho Lammikko – Stefan Noesen
Shane Lachance – Luke Glendening – Paul Cotter
Evgenii Dadonov
Defensemen
Jonas Siegenthaler – Simon Nemec
Ethan Edwards – Luke Hughes
Dennis Cholowski – Dougie Hamilton
Colton White – (Nathan Legare)
Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
In the wake of the Jack Hughes injury, this is certainly the reinforcements the Devils needed for the last three games of their road-trip, and overall moving forward.
The Devils required reinforcements. Getting Brown and Hamilton back in key roles, both at even-strength and on special teams, will provide a necessary boost to keep the Devils afloat.
New Jersey leaves for Florida later today.
James is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the PHWAs New … More about James Nichols