New Jersey Devils general Manager Tom Fitzgerald targeted Brenden Dillon because the veteran defenseman possessed the characteristics he was looking to add to his roster this past summer.
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“Players that are willing to block shots,” Fitzgerald said in April, “Players that are comfortable with confrontation, who understand that physicality is part of the game.”
Blocking shots? Dillon has been credited with six over two games. Comfortable with confrontation? The 33-year-old was the first Devils’ player to drop the gloves this season. Understands physicality is part of the game? Sure does.
In the first few minutes of Saturday’s game between the Devils and Buffalo Sabres, Dillon laid a massive open-ice hit on Sabres’ forward J.J. Peterka.
Peterka, 6′0″, 189 pounds, was down on the ice for a few seconds before his teammates helped him get to the bench. He did not return to the game.
Originally called a major penalty, the officials reduced the penalty to a minor for interference.