New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith has been placed on the injured reserve list by the Devils.
The Devils are taking steps to compensate for Smith's absence by calling up defenseman Santeri Hatakka from the Utica Comets. Hatakka, acquired through the Timo Mier trade last season, is now getting an opportunity to showcase his skills in the wake of Smith's injury.
Unfortunately for the Devils, this injury comes at an inopportune moment in the season. As teams typically strive to refine their play and secure playoff spots in the second half of the season, the Devils find themselves in a challenging position. However, the race for the playoffs is still within reach, with only a few points separating them from the three teams immediately ahead in the division.
Despite the setback, the Devils are witnessing promising performances, particularly from rookie goaltender Nico Daws. Daws, with a noteworthy 2.5 Goals Above Average according to Evolving-Wild's numbers, has been delivering standout performances since his recent call-up.
The unfolding events underscore the unpredictability of the NHL season and the challenges faced by teams as they navigate injuries and aim for success.
As seen on Markerzone - "Player Who Injured Connor Bedard Gets His Karma"
POLL | ||
19 JANVIER | 311 ANSWERS Player Who Injured Connor Bedard Gets His Karma Do you think Smith's hit was dirty on Bedard? | ||
Clean | 177 | 56.9 % |
Dirty | 134 | 43.1 % |
List of polls |