I promise this isn’t turning into a Devils blog. The injury situation has just gotten too absurd to not talk about.
I know what you’re thinking — isn’t just over a month into the season a little early to be talking about recaps? Shouldn’t I wait until at least mid-season, or even the playoffs? Well, in a normal season, I would agree with you. But this season has been anything but normal for the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils began the season with a lot of promise — Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik were brought on board to help the team in many of the areas they struggled in last year (power play, face offs, etc.). The young defensemen had a season of experience under their belt. Martin Brodeur was poised to break the career wins and career shutout records. Perhaps this would be a different team than the team that struggled mightily to score all season last year.
Things looked okay for the first 2 games — the Devils opened up the season with wins against the Islanders and Penguins, then dropped a game against the Rangers. But it would be a 1-0 shutout win against the Thrashers on October 16th that would become indicative of the Devils season.
I wish I could say this was because the Devils stopped giving up goals. That would be a lot more fun. But they have not been quite so lucky. After netting his first goal of the season in the second period of the game, Brian Rolston wiped out and fell awkwardly into the boards, suffering a high ankle sprain. He has yet to return to action.
Let’s take a look at what’s happened since:
October 18th: A 4-3 shootout victory against the Capitals. Bobby Holik is hit in the hand with an Alexander Ovechkin slapshot that obliterates his pinky. He has surgery the following week. In the span of 2 games the team is suddenly the exact same team as last year, with the addition of two rookies. Devils fans grow restless.
October 25th: A 3-2 overtime loss against the Flyers (complete with smoke bomb!). Rookie enforcer Pierre Luc Leblond had several run-ins with Riley Cote during the game (and the course of the weekend home-and-home). At some point during the second game, he broke a bone in his face. Now our replacement players are starting to drop. Things begin to look grim.
October 29th: A 6-5 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. Early in the game, Andy Greene breaks his hand after being hit by a Pavel Kubina slapshot, but continues to play the rest of the game (and put up 3 assists! A career high! This would be even more exciting if he was still playing today!). He also required surgery and won’t be back until sometime in December. I begin to think perhaps I shouldn’t have laughed at the absurd level of the Flyers’ and Penguins’ injury woes earlier in the season. Bad karma or something like that.
November 1st: A 6-1 victory over the Thrashers. Halfway through the second period, on a seemingly innocent save, Martin Brodeur is slow getting up, and seems to grab at his arm. The entire hockey fan community of New Jersey gets nervous. On the scramble in front, as play heads out of the Devils end, Marty simply does not get up, now clearly holding his arm. Devils fans begin to hyperventilate. Vigils are held as 3 very long days pass awaiting news. Antidepressant prescriptions among hockey fans in the state of New Jersey triple when the Devils announce Brodeur will be out three to four months to have surgery to repair a torn distal biceps tendon. I try to take comfort in this photo. (H/T 2MA)
November 3rd: As the Devils community reeled over the loss of Brodeur, Paul Martin quietly didn’t show up to practice, due to the annoyingly vague “upper body soreness”. He, also, hasn’t played since. But no, this isn’t ridiculous at all.
The Devils lost 2-0 to Buffalo in rather pathetic fashion that evening. In the first period of the game, Patrik Elias got nailed in the face with a puck. He, thankfully, returned later in the game. When he first got hit, I’m fairly certain most Devils fans were ready to forfeit and try again next year.
November 8th: The Lowell Devils visit the defending champs, losing 2-1. Brian Gionta gets absolutely hammered into the boards, leaving the game with what appeared to be a head/neck/shoulder injury. Bryce Salvador would leave the game late in the second after taking a John Madden shot off the back of the foot. I joked about taking bets on who would get hurt next before the game. I’m so sorry, Brian and Bryce. Really. 
November 9th: Despite both players assuring the media they were going to be ready to play, Gionta and Salvador did not dress for the Devils’ game against the Oilers. The Devils call up defenseman Jay Leach and left wing Patrick Davis from Lowell. (All together now Devils fans: WHO?!). Their top forwards in Lowell, Matt Halischuk and Rod Pelley, are both on the IR as well.
At several points during the game last night, the Devils played a line composed of entirely rookies: Petr Vrana, Nicklas Bergfors, and Davis. At one point, they had 5 Lowell Devils on the ice at the same time. It was rather unfortunate to watch.
Additionally, 8 minutes into the game, Mike Mottau got hit in the face with a puck. WHILE HE WAS ON THE BENCH. Mike Rupp deflected the puck out of play and right into poor Mottau’s face. He collapsed and was helped to the locker room, but luckily for the Devils, was back for the second period.
So for those keeping score at home:
Brian Rolston (high ankle sprain)
Bobby Holik (broken pinky)
Pierre Luc Leblond (broken orbital bone)
Andy Greene (broken hand)
Martin Brodeur (torn distal biceps tendon)
Paul Martin (”upper body soreness”)
Brian Gionta (head/neck/shoulder)
Bryce Salvador (foot)
27 man games lost BEFORE this weekend. That number must be higher by now. And yes, folks, its only the first week of November.
I have two words for Brent Sutter and the rest of the Devils’ coaching staff: BUBBLE WRAP.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Great recap. Painful, but great. I laughed several times, then cried like never before.
And seriously, Mike Mottau taking a puck to the face whist sitting innocently on the bench? It’s like the Three Stooges. Rupp tips it, Colin White ducks, and Mottau takes the puck to the face, falling comically with skates high in the air for all to see, just for added effect.
Next up, someone’s going to injure their back when the sneeze the wrong way.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:21 am
October 29-30: I fall in love with Andy Greene, and then get my heart broken all over again.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks Josh!
I’m starting to feel like I may be in danger just by being a fan of this team. Enough already!
November 12th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
You missed Stephen Gionta, also hurt in Lowell, also out 4-6 weeks. While the Devils have depleted Lowell, Lowell has depleted Trenton. I’m wondering if there’s room for a near 50 yr old goalie to act as backup in Trenton. They won’t even have to pay me, just to suit up, take some practice shots and say “I was there” would be worthwhile… and at this rate, in 2 weeks the Devils will probably need me.