Devils interim head coach Travis Green spoke with reporters today, including Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media, to provide an update on a pair of injured players. He indicated that it’s unlikely that Dougie Hamilton will return at all this season. Hamilton had surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle a little less than four months ago and is currently on LTIR. Since the Devils primarily sold at the deadline, they could easily have gotten back into cap compliance to activate the veteran if he was able to return.
Meanwhile, the news is a little better for winger Nathan Bastian. Green indicated there is a chance that the 26-year-old could return from an upper-body injury that has caused him to miss a little more than a month. Bastian has a dozen points along with 143 hits in 54 games so far this season.
More from New Jersey:
- Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler took part in practice today as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, mentions team reporter Amanda Stein (Twitter link). He has missed more than two weeks with this latest ailment, one that came just a few weeks after missing 16 games with a foot issue. Siegenthaler has been limited to just nine points through 49 games so far but as a second-pairing player, New Jersey would certainly like to get him back in the lineup sooner than later.
- Brian Halonen’s daily transactions tour continues. Per the AHL’s transactions log, the forward has been recalled to New Jersey’s roster today after being sent down yesterday. This is his third recall since Wednesday. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last month, his only appearance at the top level so far. Meanwhile, with Utica, he has fared well with 16 goals and eight assists in just 30 games. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract.