“He was deserving of the opportunity,” Shero said. “He was a hard-working kid. He got into one playoff game for them last year, but he worked hard, staying every day after practice with the other guys.”

Bennett was sidelined by two injuries this season, missing nine games with what the Devils called a lower-body injury and three games with a lacerated right leg. Shero said he was happy with what Bennett had done while healthy, but added that injuries had disrupted his season.

To an extent, Bennett’s piano playing has also been disrupted. When he moved to Jersey City, he did not have the upright keyboard his parents had bought him. Through a mix-up, the instrument, in storage in Pittsburgh, had been resold. His apartment, however, is too small for a piano, and his contract with the Devils is for just one year.

“Any time when we’re on the road, and there’s one in the lobby, I sit down and make sure I remember how to play,” Bennett said. “I don’t play as much as I used to — based on not having a piano.”

He added: “It’s something that’s fun when you’re good at it, but it can be just a struggle. People always ask me if I surf. It’s very similar. If you’re not good at surfing, it’s not fun. You’re just sitting on a board. Once I got to 13, and I was able to read music and teach myself — I have a very good memory, so I can play without reading music. But now I realize why my parents wanted me to do it — just to be more well rounded.”

Playing the piano is a nice way to escape a disappointing Devils season, and it does help him play hockey.

“You can soften up your hands,” Bennett said. “It’s hand-eye coordination, where you’re trying to look up but also see your fingers touch the rake.”