Devils' Damon Severson a 'full go' for season debut vs. Kraken

NEWARK — After only one game of the regular season, the Devils expected to see Damon Severson on the ice Tuesday for his season debut. Head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters Tuesday morning that Severson was a "full go", one day after his first full-contact practice since a lower body injury sidelined the alternate captain.

"We thought he looked really good in practice," Ruff said. "He had a good morning skate and he's ready to go."

Severson was a top defenseman for the Devils last season, playing in all 56 games and scoring three goals with 18 assists. He returns to a much-improved defensive core after offseason acquisitions Ryan Graves and Dougie Hamilton have settled in with the Devils. 

"It's nice to come back," said Severson. "The first one of the year, it would have been nice for it to be last game, but the first one of the year is this one tonight for me. I'm looking forward to having hopefully a good memory of this one tonight and keeping the streak rolling."

Last game:Jack Hughes scores highlight goal in overtime as Devils top Blackhawks in the opener

Ruff believes Severson will end up being paired with Colton White, keeping left and right-handed defensemen together. That would make Christian Jaros the likely odd man out.

Nate Bastian returns to Newark

The team from New Jersey faced off with the team wearing the newest jersey on Tuesday night as the Devils hosted the newest NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken, for the first time. A few former Devils were expected to be on the opposing bench for Seattle, including former first-round pick Adam Larsson.

Making his first trip to Newark as an opponent on Tuesday was Nathan Bastian. Bastian was resigned by the Devils to a two-year contract in June, but was the Devils player taken by the Kraken in the expansion draft a month later.

Kraken:Seattle Kraken get Nathan Bastian from New Jersey Devils in NHL expansion draft

Michael McLeod had shared a line with Bastian since playing for the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL in 2014, so Tuesday was to be the first time in their professional careers the two close friends are on the ice together and on opposing benches.

"It'll be a little weird at first," McLeod said before the game. "Playing with him for so long and seeing him on the other side will be a little different, but it's hockey and I'll get used to it."

McLeod said the two remain close, but haven't really talked about the chance to play each other, potentially against one another on the ice at the same time.

"I think it'll be pretty funny," laughed McLeod. "We're both going to play hard and whatever happens, happens."

Devils place Blackwood on IR 

It will still be a while before goalie Mackenzie Blackwood makes his season debut. On Tuesday, the Devils placed their top goalie on injured reserve for his heel injury. The placement on IR has been dated retroactively to Oct. 11. Blackwood is the corresponding move by the team for activating Severson.

Ruff said  a nagging heel injury is what is keeping Blackwood away. Blackwood had surgery on the heel in the offseason, but Ruff said the time away from the ice will impact Blackwood's date of return. 

"He's going to need some practice time," said Ruff. "He's doing a lot of conditioning off the ice. It won't be a conditioning issue. It'll just be getting back and getting in competitive hockey and seeing reps on the ice."

Blackwood made headlines off the ice in September when he announced he was one of four NHL players not currently vaccinated against COVID-19 and the lone player on the Devils. Blackwood missed six games last season after testing positive for the virus and had a series of inconclusive tests during training camp that held him out of some preseason action. He has stated that he is considering getting the vaccine in the future.

Email: aitken@northjersey.com

Twitter: @robertaitkenjr