It’s that time of year again. Some NHL prospects have heard their names called at the Entry Draft or they’ve signed with teams as undrafted free agents or have agreed to tryouts. Other prospects have completed their seasons and are hoping to impress the parent club in other ways. Either way, Development Camps are open around The League and one team with plenty of prospects present is the New Jersey Devils. 

One such player is a center out of The USHL named Mason Moe. This 6-2, 195 lbs, Eden Prairie, Minnesota native was drafted by the Devils on Saturday, in the third round, 90th overall. Moe is present at Devils’ Development Camp and after his first day of skating on Monday, he was kind enough to sit down and talk about several topics. 

*Editor’s Note: Questions and Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Question: How important is this Development Camp to you?

Moe: “They (the coaches) have a lot of knowledge, so I’ll go to them, asking for tips. We have film, so that’s kind of important too. Just using it as an advantage to improve my knowledge on my two-way game and everything else that I can kind of use to improve my game.” 

Question: It’s only Day One, but were you picking the brains of any of the prospects who have been to this camp before? Did you know any of them prior to today?

Moe: “I know the guys (around my age) a little bit better, but it’s good to get to know guys who aren’t maybe from The US or play in other leagues, because it’s always good to kind of know where other guys are coming from and their stories. So been trying to meet as many people as I can.”

Question: Which NHL player(s) do you try to copy small parts of their game from?

Moe: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, Nico Hischier with the Devils is the big one. Then, (Matt) Boldy, coming from Minnesota. Being from Minnesota, I watched a lot of Wild games, so growing up there made it kind of easy to watch him. But, yeah, all around The League, just kind of learning, especially playoff hockey, it’s big. So just trying to get better.”

Question: What are your expectations for where you would like to see your game and yourself personally at the end of this upcoming season?

Moe: “I think just kind of at a new level. Improving my weaknesses. I set goals to improve the stuff I wanna work on. So at the end of the year, I’m looking to kind of get that checked off and look for other stuff to improve. Just pick some things to get better at over the season.”

Question: What do you feel your personal timeline is in regards to potentially making a serious run at playing for the Devils at The NHL level?

Moe: “I think that the biggest thing is taking it day by day. I like to stay present. I don’t really focus on (timelines) too much. It’s awesome to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I gotta keep working and there’s still a lot of work to be done. Just taking it day by day is the biggest thing right now.”

Question: What are some of the things you like to do away from the ice?

Moe: “I mean, recovery’s a big thing. Being away from the rink, taking care of the body and making sure you stay healthy, is probably the most important thing. So that’s a big one. And then, obviously, a lot of pickleball. A lot of golf in the summer. Hanging out with my friends and family and just enjoying being home.”

Question: What’s your golf handicap?

Moe: “I’m a nine right now.”

Question: Have you ever gotten a hole-in-one?

Moe: “I have not, no. Hopefully, though, by the end of the summer. I’m getting there.” 

Question: What’s your favorite course to play?

Moe: “I’m a member at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota. So we play there a lot. And then, I played at Kiawah, the Ocean Course, in South Carolina. That was a pretty fun one, too.”

Question: What is it about golf and hockey players? You don’t see baseball players and other athletes playing golf nearly as much as hockey players do. 

Moe: “I think the walking is a big thing. It’s nice to just kind of get outside and walk. Obviously, hockey’s pretty tough on the hips and the legs, so just walking around and kind of using it as a natural recovery is a big thing.”

Question: What’s your go-to club for mid-range shots?

Moe: “I love my rescue and my fairway driver, use them a lot.”

Question: What’s been your best drive distance?

Moe: “Probably about 330 (yards). Nothing crazy. Got a lot of roll.”

Question: Are there any particular brands you like to use for golf clubs?

Moe: “I use Titleist Irons and then I use a Stealth Driver. Yeah, just whatever gets the job done.”