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Today the New Jersey Devils opened their doors at the Prudential Center for rookies to report to camp and take their physicals.
The rookies will be on the ice Tuesday before the veterans report to camp on Wednesday and hit the ice Thursday.
Here are some notes on the first day of Devils camp:
- With training camp officially underway, the Devils released the roster of players attending. Windsor Spitfires forward Remy Giftopoulos is the only training camp invite listed.
Giftopoulos, 20, was granted an invite because the Spitfires and Devils have a good relationship and Spitfires management asked if they'd take a look at him, according to Tom Gulitti.
Giftopoulos is a versatile two-way forward who can play in any situation. He scored 25 goals and recorded 48 points in 71 games with Windsor and Ottawa last season.
It's unlikely he'll land a contract, but he does play the type of game that appeals to Lou Lamoriello and Devils management.
- I've been asked by some why Steve Santini isn't at Devils training camp. The reason is that Santini has obligations at Boston College that he must attend to. The Devils have seven NHL defenseman under contract and a plethora of defence prospects so it's not as if he's missing an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Lamoriello is very respectful to college hockey and wouldn't fight anything to try and bring him to camp. Lamoriello doesn't like to have any impact on when a player decides to turn pro, either. He leaves those decisions for the players.
- The Devils have six goaltenders at camp this year: Martin Brodeur, Cory Schneider, Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood, Maxime Clermont and Anthony Brodeur. All but Anthony Brodeur will be playing pro hockey this year.
I'm interested to see how Wedgewood and Clermont do in camp. Wedgewood is certainly the favorite to split starts in Albany with Kinkaid, but a poor camp combined with a strong showing from Clermont could turn the tables.
It's a big year for all three of those goaltenders as they try to ready themselves to compete for a roster spot when No. 30 hangs up his skates.
- Former Devils forward Dave Steckel has agreed to go to Minnesota Wild camp on a tryout basis. The Wild could use some depth in the bottom-6 so he has a relatively good shot to make the team.
**
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A look at the Devils top five forward prospects.
Why the Devils will compete for a playoff spot.
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