Devils forward injured against Red Wings, status unclear

In the New Jersey Devils’ duel with the Detroit Red Wings on Friday afternoon, striker Tomas Tatar was injured in the first period of the game.

Tatar did not return in the second period and the Devils had to play with eleven forwards. In the third period, New Jersey announced that Tatar would not return to the game due to a lower-body injury.

The Devils signed Tatar to a one-year, $1.2 million contract this summer, returning him to New Jersey after a year-long layoff between the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken.

In 25 games with the Devils this season, the 33-soon-to-be 34-year-old forward has scored three goals and eight points.

Tatar wasn’t quite the offensive player he was in his first stint with the Devils, where he scored 20 goals and 48 points in the 2022-23 season. However, due to injuries to Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian, head coach Sheldon Keefe has largely used him on the fourth line. His most frequent linemate of late has been Justin Dowling, while on the opposite wing he has rotated between Kurtis MacDermid, Nolan Foote and Shane Bowers.

However, Keefe gave Tatar a chance with his former linemates Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. But the magic that this line once held didn’t quite rekindle. As a result, Tatar was demoted to a deep role in favor of Stefan Noesen, who thrived in a top-six role.

The Devils play again on Saturday when they host the Washington Capitals. If Tatar is unavailable, Keefe will have to play MacDermid again, and Bowers will likely come back as an additional forward. That is, unless the Devils turn to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, for reinforcements.

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