Already without star defenseman Dougie Hamilton for much of the season, it appears that the New Jersey Devils will be without another member of their defensive top-four for quite some time. Team reporter Amanda Stein relayed that defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler will miss significant time with a concussion.
The injury was undoubtedly suffered in the team’s Monday night game against the New York Rangers when Siegenthaler took an elbow to the head from Rangers’ forward Matt Rempe. The conduct was so severe that the Department of Player Safety deemed the action worthy of a four-game suspension for Rempe.
Nevertheless, it has now become clear that Siegenthaler will miss the next several weeks in concussion protocol, and the team may even opt to keep him out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. As the Devils continue to move further and further out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, Siegenthaler may benefit from taking the rest of the year off to make sure he is completely healthy enough to return.
It will not be the first major injury of the year sustained by Siegenthaler, who is in the first year of a five-year, $17MM extension signed with New Jersey last year. In early January, in a game against the Vancouver Canucks, Siegenthaler broke his foot which kept him out of the lineup for six weeks.
If Monday night’s game was the last of the year for Siegenthaler, he still put together a quality season for the Devils. In 49 games played, Siegenthaler scored one goal and nine points, putting up 79 blocked shots and 69 hits, as well.
That was a no Brain’er that hit could ruin a players career..
Rempe could find the press-box after that sort of suspension too. If I’m the NYR, the last thing I need is being down another man and, moreso, 5min penalty kill
Rempe will not be rostered in the playoffs. I’d bet my teeth
You better look at Peter Laviolette history and roster construction that he always took with him into the stretch drive. The kid plays.
Rempe owes the Devils several fights. Or the Devils should sign Todd Bertuzzi for a night.
Rempe deserves whatever he gets
Don’t recall the same outrage from devils fans when PK subban knocked out Blais for the season with a slew foot
Good old Slewbban. Still haunting hockey fans with his horrible commentary.
The PK Subban Devils era had been completely removed from my memory. Three years? Holy crap!
I’ve lost all respect for Rempe. Refuses to drop the gloves, throws a cheap shot that seriously injures a guy, then leaves the ice waving at the NYR bench. Grade A clown.
Can’t wait for the rematch on April 3rd though.
Perhaps it’s time for a rule or policy that states any player who is responsible for the injury of another player (especially due to a penalty or foul) be suspended unpaid for the same amount of time or games that the injured player misses. Not just in hockey, but also in other professional sports. I’m guessing that might cut down on the cheap shots and obvious disrespect some players have for their opponents in some sports.
This win at all costs mindset is ruining some sports. Especially the so-called amateur sports at the HS and college levels.