Andrew Gross | NorthJersey

Andrew Gross/NorthJersey.com

Nick Wass, AP

NEWARK – Don’t expect the Devils to get involved with protesting the national anthem.

While debate rages through the sports world as some NFL athletes took to kneeling during the national anthem this past weekend after President Trump called for players who knelt during the national anthem to be fired, two of the Devils American-born players there has been little discussion of the topic in the team’s room.

The Devils beat the Capitals, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena in Washington to conclude their preseason an impressive 5-1-1.

“You talk about the NFL, everyone has their reasons and their rights to do what they feel right,” said captain Andy Greene, who was born in Trenton, Mich. and did not dress for Wednesday’s game. “They’re doing it peacefully and they’re doing in their own way and that’s good. It really hasn’t come up in our locker room. Whether someone will do it or not, I guess when we cross that bridge we’ll talk about it. You respect other people’s rights.”

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The debate did reach the NHL when the Sharks’ Canadian-born Joel Ward, one of about 20 black players in the league, told The Mercury News he hasn’t ruled out kneeling during the national anthem.

USA Today on Wednesday confirmed that Ward or any other player who so protested would not be in violation of any existing NHL rules.

“Not for us,” right wing Kyle Palmieri of Montvale N.J. said when asked about any discussions in the Devils’ room about anthem protests.

Palmieri was also not in Wednesday night’s lineup.

Nick Wass, AP

“I think it’s something that it’s hard to comment on other people and their situations,” Palmieri said. “Obviously, people come from different backgrounds. The way the NHL is set up, there’s quite a few people who aren’t from the United States and the politics of it is not really an issue. Our team hasn’t had any discussions as far as that stuff or protests or anything like that. Right now, we’re focused on what’s going on inside our dressing room. This time of the year, those outside distractions aren’t something you want to let in and be a part of your locker room.”

As part of their extended break from games after Wednesday night’s preseason finale and the regular-season opener against the Avalanche at Prudential Center, the Devils are scheduled for a team-bonding trip to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. from Sunday to Tuesday.

Palmieri, with family ties to military service, founded Squad 21 last season that afforded either active or retired service members the chance to attend Devils’ home games

“We’re fortunate to be able to go up to West Point and spend some time around our service men and women,” Palmieri said. “It’s going to be a huge honor for us so everybody is looking forward to that.”

Nick Wass, AP

BRIEFS: No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier scored his fourth goal in four preseason games as the Devils went 3 for 3 on the power play in building a 4-0 first-period lead over the Capitals. Fellow prized prospect defenseman Will Butcher added an even-strength goal and right wings Drew Stafford and Jimmy Hayes also scored on the man advantage. Hischier and defenseman Damon Severson each had two assists. …Right wing Stefan Noesen may face NHL supplementary discipline for his high shoulder check on Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik in the second period. …Goalie Cory Schneider made 22 saves as he played his third full game of the preseason. …Center Michael McLeod, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, will try to skate on his own on Thursday after being helped off the ice limping in the first period of a 3-0 split-squad loss to the Islanders at Barclays Center. McLeod, who did not appear to have any contact on the play, is listed as having a lower-body issue.