The Devils announced that captain Nico Hischier is headed for injured reserve after lacking the final 4 contests with an upper-body damage. Prime protection prospect Simon Nemec was referred to as up from AHL Utica in a corresponding transfer and can enter the lineup Thursday in opposition to the Golden Knights instead of Jonas Siegenthaler, who left Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Penguins with an obvious leg/ankle damage after falling awkwardly within the impartial zone.
Hischier sustained the damage on a cross-check/slash from Montreal captain Nick Suzuki, resulting in his first absence of the season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe instructed reporters after the incident that Hischier is out week-to-week, so whereas he’s eligible to come back off IR at any time, he’s nonetheless not anticipated again for his or her remaining sport earlier than the 4 Nations Face-Off in opposition to the Canadiens on Saturday.
He stays the crew’s aim chief regardless of lacking time, with 24 in 51 video games. He’s additionally added 19 assists for 43 factors, rating fourth on the crew with a +11 ranking and main them with a 55.5 FO%. Dawson Mercer briefly shifted from wing to middle for the primary few video games of Hischier’s absence however was changed down the center by Erik Haula for Tuesday’s sport after the veteran was cleared to return from an ankle sprain.
After making New Jersey’s opening-night roster, Nemec will get one other probability within the NHL. He recorded an help and a minus-two ranking in 9 video games earlier than a string of wholesome scratches and an eventual reassignment to Utica in early November. The 2022 second-overall decide has 5 objectives and 17 assists in 32 AHL video games since his demotion, the very best offensive exhibiting of his three-minor league campaigns.
His recall comes after he expressed frustration about his prolonged AHL task to a media outlet in his native Slovakia in January. Nevertheless, he mentioned he hadn’t requested a commerce out of Newark, and the Devils haven’t but appeared keen to leverage him in a commerce.
Somebody will likely be taking part in on their offside Thursday in opposition to Vegas, as Nemec offers them 4 righties and two lefties on the blue line. Johnathan Kovacevic is the one one of many former group to spend important time on the left this season, per CapWages, so he’ll doubtless change Siegenthaler in top-pairing duties alongside Dougie Hamilton whereas Nemec enters the lineup alongside both Brenden Dillon or Luke Hughes.
