After a memorable 2012 Stanley Cup playoff run and a regular season in which Adam Henrique nearly won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, a return to the minors is a comedown for the Devils forward.

Assigned to the Albany Devils of the AHL just before NHL players were locked out by the owners, Henrique took part today in the first day of minor-league training camp.

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“It’s tough. Obviously, you want to be playing in the NHL, but it’s the same for every other player around the league who is coming off a good year and wants to play,“ Henrique said.

”I guess it’s different for me being a young guy, having one year and then a lockout begins. I was a fan the last time around.”

He knew returning to the AHL was a possibility.

“It was kind of in the back of my head throughout the summer,” Henrique said. “It wasn’t something I was thinking about until later in the summer, when everything started coming down to the wire and (preseason) games were getting canceled.

“Now we’re here. It’s nice I don’t have to worry about not having a place to play. Otherwise, I’d be sitting at home like a lot of other players.”

Albany coach Rick Kowalsky, who had Henrique for 73 games in 2010-11, gets him back as a much more accomplished player.

“Just seeing him last year (with the Devils) and his play in the playoffs, I don’t want to say I could’ve predicted (Henrique’s rookie season), but we knew he was a special player and going to have success in the NHL,“ Kowalsky said.

When Henrique returned to his hometown of Burford, Ontario, this summer, locals looked at him differently.

“I think a little bit. It’s exciting. You go back and see all the young kids there excited to see you,” Henrique said. “I’m more recognized at home than here, but hockey is big back home. I’m from such a small community.”

The community honored him by putting up a banner that says: “Welcome to Burford. Est. 1793. Home of #14 Adam Henrique.”

"That was a pretty cool feeling. I drove in and it was there," Henrique said.

"I was kind of shocked at first when they wanted to do it. It was a pretty neat feeling."

Notes: Adam Larsson and Jacob Josefson are also in minor-league camp. Larsson said he wanted to play in the AHL rather than play on the smaller ice surfaces in Europe.

Mattias Tedenby’s attempt to fight his way back onto the Devils’ NHL roster must wait during the lockout.

“Now the AHL is the best league in North America,” Tedenby said enthusiastically.

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils