For the first time since last season, the Devils are a full squad taking full practice. Although it won’t be tonight, when they visit the red-hot Islanders, it appears it won’t be long before Jamie Langenbrunner and Colin White make their season debuts.
Blurred vision and all, defenseman White seems intent on playing regardless, with whatever sight remains in his right eye. He dressed in a black jersey, just like the other seven defensemen, and took a regular turn in his first full-fledged practice yesterday, wearing a three-quarter shield to protect the eye that was significantly damaged by a deflected puck Sept. 19.
“My sight isn’t what it was, that’s for sure. But you adapt,” said White, who sounds as if he’s becoming resigned to the possibility there may not be much more improvement in his vision.
“[Playing] was always the goal. No big decisions have been made, but this is another step in the right direction,” White said.
White would have 20 games to test his eye before losing the opportunity to claim NHL disability – a significant financial consideration. He said he’s not worried about such issues.
“I’m just trying to focus on getting better and being positive. In the last eight weeks, there have been good days and bad days, like with any injury. But I’ve been feeling a lot better the last 2-3 weeks,” White said.
White called it a full-contact practice, although most of his teammates stayed out of his way. Except one.
“[Langenbrunner] tried. We kind of stumbled over each other,” White said.
Invited to try by the coaches, White took a light workout with the Devils in their morning skate preceding Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the Flyers. The invitation was renewed for yesterday’s practice, and White seemed pumped afterward.
“He’s looking pretty good,” Brent Sutter said. “Still, I don’t want to look too far ahead.”
Langenbrunner, who could have been ready for the start of the season if the Devils had sent him for hernia surgery in June, sounded doubtful about playing tonight, but didn’t rule it out.
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The Isles have won three straight and five of six, an eyebrow-raising 8-4 in playing the fewest games in the NHL and being outscored 37-36.