The renovations going on are to the Devils' practice locker room. The team now is planning to use that room, which is larger than the game locker room, for games as well. The players will have a longer walk to the ice and will enter the rink from the opposite side. Whether that will be completed in time for the first home preseason game a week from Friday against the Islanders is unknown.
The idea of having a different locker room for home games and practices in the past was so that being in the locker room for games felt special and not the same as for a practice.
“You see the changes happening in the locker rooms also, not just the personnel-wise, but they're changing things around in there,” Elias said. “But, that's the way it is. It's a new start, new era for everyone, so they want to make sure you get a sense of that.”