The New Jersey Devils recalled defenseman Santeri Hatakka on Wednesday morning. He joined the Devils on the ice for morning skate.
As a result of the illegal check to the head by New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe on Monday, Jonas Siegenthaler was absent from practice.
Interim head coach Travis Green explained he’ll be out, “For an extended period of time.” A team spokesperson explained that Siegenthaler has a concussion.
Defenseman John Marino was also absent from Wednesday’s skate. It was just a maintenance day for Marino as explained by the Devils. However, interim head coach Travis Green later explained there is a “strong possibility” that Marino misses Thursday night’s tilt against the Dallas Stars.
As a result of the absences from both Devils’ veteran defensemen, it appears Hatakka and Nick DeSimone will draw into the lineup. It would be DeSimone’s first game for the Devils since they claimed him on Jan. 25th.
“[DeSimone] is a good skater, a good puck mover,” Green explained. “Obviously he hasn’t played for a while. Keeping a player confident is important. So, he’ll probably simplify his play a little bit. He’ll be excited to play.”
On Hatakka: “I just think his composure, [competition], and skating,” Green replied when asked what he liked about Hatakka’s game during his last recall.
“He defended well and seemed confident. You want to see [that] in young players. It’s not an easy league to break into but he seemed full of confidence and belief in himself. I’m happy to see him back.”
Wednesday’s Morning Workflow
Forwards
Jack Hughes – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Jesper Bratt – Erik Haula – Timo Meier
Ondrej Palat – Tomas Nosek – Alexander Holtz
Kurtis MacDermid/Nolan Foote – Chris Tierney – Curtis Lazar
Defenseman
Luke Hughes – Simon Nemec
Kevin Bahl – Nick DeSimone
Santeri Hatakka – Brendan Smith
Goaltenders
Jake Allen/Kaapo Kahkonen/Nico Daws
Devils Power Play
PP1: L. Hughes, J. Hughes, Meier, Mercer, Hischier
PP2: Nemec, Holtz, Bratt, Haula, Palat
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