Parise and Zajac reunited -- with Shanahan; late arrivals

After being split up for the first practices of training camp on Sunday, usual linemates Travis Zajac and Zach Parise are back together for the first session of today's practices at Devils' training camp.

Instead of Jamie Langenbrunner on the right wing of that line , however, it's Brendan Shanahan. Langenbrunner is not in this group.

Rookie Patrice Cormier, who centered Parise and Shanahan on Sunday, is centering Jay Pandolfo and David Clarkson today -- another sign that Cormier is going to get an opportunity from the coaches during camp.

There are three goaltenders on the ice for the first session today: Martin Brodeur, Jeff Frazee and Dave Caruso. 

{To left: Assistant coach Scott Stevens draws up the plan for the next drill while Brendan Shanahan (in red) look on.}

Some of the younger players and minor leaguers learned the hard way that a 10 a.m. practice start for the Devils doesn't mean 10 a.m. Jacques Lemaire called the players together at 9:50 and some of them were not on the ice yet. Ilkka Pikkarainen. Matt Halischuk, and Kevin Cormier were among the non-NHLers (but not the only ones) who hopped onto the ice after drills had already begun.

In their defense, they have to dress in locker rooms that are on the opposite end of the building and then walk over.

Again, the pace is very fast. The first 30 minutes or so were all drills. The players left the ice at 10:25. The Zambonis resurfaced and the players came back out to scrimmage -- the same format as Sunday.

Brodeur is playing the full scrimmage in one net. Frazee and Caruso are alternating in the other net.

They're working on the power play now. Shanahan beat Brodeur from outside the left post for a goal. He flubbed his shot, but it floated over Brodeur.

After the scrimmage, the players did one-on-one drills.

Here's the full list of players on the ice for today's first session.

Goaltenders (3): Brodeur, Frazee, Caruso.

Defensemen (10): Johnny Oduya-Paul Martin; Bryce Salvador-Andy Greene; Mark Fraser-Olivier Magnan-Grenier; Matt Delahey-Alexander Urbom;.Rob Davison-Harry Young.

Forwards (15): Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Brendan Shanahan; Jay Pandolfo-Patrice Cormier-David Clarkson;  Kory Nagy-Kevin Cormier-Andrew Peters; Vladimir Zharkov-Ben Walter-Illka Pikkarainen, Alexander Vasyunov-Tim Sestito-Matt Halishcuk.

***

It wasn't there last week, but the Devils-Islanders preseason game next Wednesday at Nassau Coliseum is now listed on MSG Plus' broadcast schedule. It's a 7 p.m. start.

The Devils radio team of Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross will be broadcasting four of the team's five preseason games (they won't do the Sept. 24 game in Philadelphia) on www.wfan.com and www.newjerseydevils.com.

***

Goaltending coach Jacques Caron is here today, watching from the bench. Chris Terreri is on the ice with the goaltenders.

Jim Dowd is here again watching with the scouts, coaches and management.

Comments

[rob]

I don't get it.. if this is your shot at making the NHL, wouldn't you want to do everything you can to impress, including being 15 minutes early to get onto the ice? I go early when I have a meeting..

[gooball420]

:D

I love this.

Jacques, crack the whip. this team needs to bond through discipline and ambition.

[RandomHero]

Im guessing the fact that Patrice Cormier is still centering vets today means he played well yesterday.

[Bergfors Fan Club]

Nic Bergfors will light up the afternoon session.

[Pat D]

Do any of the returning NHLers look like they used to the summer to really improve on something? Size? Speed?

[TG]

Nothing obvious so far

[CJ]

Is it fair to say that the first round of cuts might happen as soon as tomorrow?

[Tom]

Reunited and it feels so good.....

[slivedmb]

parise had good things to say about comrier. said he already had a voice on the bench. made good plays with the puck and the line had plenty of scoring chances. i think hes big enough to come in early. with elias out i think hes taking a spot. cant wait for the rangers game on wed. i havent been able to get any of TGs videos to work so it would be nice to see the young guys.

[Kristen]

I'm so excited about hockey this season. I'm breating a sigh of relief to know that ZZPop will stay together. Not sure how you could meess with that chemistry but stranger things have happened.

Side note - I'm getting married in a few weeks and my future husband (pens fan) agreed to walk into our reception to Rock & Roll Part II. I'm so excited!

[brian]

tg do you get the sense the preseason game line up will be like last year where 2 nhl caliber lines played in each game the rest of the spots occupied by rookies or do you think lemaire wants his ideal lineup for the games?

[steve]

kristen.... that is sooooo weird... im gettin married oct 16th and that's what we are walking out to haha

[Mark]

Patrice Cormier i supposed to have some good passing skills so I'd like him with a shooter. He also likes to hit and drive the net. If Zubrus moves up to center #2 with say Rolston. How about a line of Shanny, Cormier, and then either bergfors for an offensive twist or else with Clarkson for a tough, hitting line that can score.

[Kristen]

Steve - that is awesome! I'm Oct. 10th!

[loulam.proboards.com]

On October 17th, my brand new wife and I will be walking in to "Another One Bites The Dust."

[Warren]

Sounds like Brodeur is still in Game 7 form!

Okay...I'm kinda kidding!

[Mario]

Are the practices open to the public at the Rock?

[modnarm]

seems Lemaire is lookin at
Pando-Cormier-Clarkson as a possible 3rd line?
and seeing how Walters and Pikka do together?

I doubt Zharkov is going to get a spot for the simple reason that we have plenty of LWs.. UNLESS bergfors doesn't make the team.. AND...
Elias-Zubrus-Rolston
Pando-Cormier-Clarkson
Zharkov-Pelley-Shanny/Pikka??

ah but that doesn't leave room for BOTH shanny and Pikka.. AND PL3/Peters. hm. so many players so little space!

I'm just thrilled we have an EXPERIENCED GREAT coach that knows what hes doing... AND has the players in line an liking him.

[Ralph D]

Hey TG,

Quick question. You mention the radio broadcast of the games. Is it true that Wednesday's game against the Rangers is on MSG +.

Really love the work you do following the Devils.

Thanks.

[Adel]

Where is Whitey?

[JerryG]

"...it floated over Brodeur."

Lets hope that's the LAST TIME we hear/see that phrase until next July!!

[Lykus]

this Zharkov guy has been mentioned a few times, seems like he can provide some depth in case of an injury or something..

[TG]

I think I mentioned last week that the Rangers-Devils game on Wednesday is on MSG Plus and MSG.

[patiently waiting]

Gio held that line together...we are still short some big players and with elias out,...we could be heading for a long october and november..

regardless of the injury, we still needed a solid passing winder and replacement for him..and bergfors isnt cutting it..

zubrus on the third line with Rolston and Clarkson will be the diamond in the rough..Rollie and clarky are Money together..they should keep that with zubrus as the big center...

its the second line taht needs major surgery...Elias..poor guy..had his best year in a while, and we all know Gio was the main reason for that...almost all of patties goals on that line were primary assists from Gionta...so the coached need to focus on that if the second line wants to be productive...

zubrus is a fantastic Third line center...so if patty is moved, then we better have some goal scorers for him...and rolston moved up their will kill our depth.. the rookies dont have a chance...

this will be a year of mix and match..building and learning..i wouldnt hope for a deep play off run, or possible post season at all

[Cupwinner]

TG, isn't there a rule that will allow Cormier to play the first 9-10 games and still be eligible to go back to juniors. This may be a big factor if Elias has to miss the first few games. It gives the Devils a center without having to make a roster move