The New Jersey Devils will be without Mirco Mueller for some time according to Amanda Stein of the team site. Mueller suffered a broken clavicle on Sunday night, and will be out indefinitely following a surgery scheduled for Thursday.
It’s a tough break for Mueller, who had begun to play an important role for the Devils and was taking on more and more minutes. The former San Jose Sharks prospect was acquired this summer to add another young piece to the Devils blueline, but will now miss a good chunk of the season as he waits for his collarbone to heal. The injury occurred on a hit from Chicago forward John Hayden, after which Mueller immediately exited the game.
The Devils were already carrying eight defensemen, so a recall of another isn’t a guarantee. Instead, we could see Ben Lovejoy or Dalton Prout re-enter the lineup. The team is 11-4-2 on the season and one of the biggest surprises in the league. Their depth will now be tested on defense, where their top options will likely have to take on even more responsibility.