The Devils announced that defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler was positioned on injured reserve Tuesday, probably retroactive to his final look on Jan. 6, with a foot fracture. Ahead Shane Bowers and defensemen Cal Foote have been recalled from AHL Utica in corresponding strikes.
Head coach Lindy Ruff said final weekend that Siegenthaler, 26, would probably miss vital time. As such, he’s anticipated to stay on IR longer than the minimal seven-day keep. The crew’s secondary shutdown defender behind John Marino has six objectives, 37 assists, 43 factors, and a +15 ranking in 196 contests with the Devils since coming over to New Jersey from the Capitals in an April 2021 commerce.
Now within the first season of a five-year, $17M extension signed shortly after he grew to become eligible for one in July 2022, Siegenthaler has spent this season driving shotgun with Dougie Hamilton or Simon Nemec on the Devils’ high pairing. Hamilton has been out since late November with a left pectoral muscle tear and is predicted to overlook the rest of the season. In the meantime, the 19-year-old Nemec has successfully shouldered heavy minutes in his first NHL stint since being chosen second total within the 2022 draft.
Earlier than his damage, Siegenthaler had one objective, seven assists and a -1 ranking whereas averaging 19:54 of ice time by 38 video games.
Bowers and Foote come as much as alleviate the pains of a Devils roster presently with out Hamilton and Siegenthaler on protection and Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Tomáš Nosek, and Ondřej Palát at ahead all because of accidents. The 2 recollects get the Devils to the minimal 18 skaters on the lively roster, which means they’ll each attract for his or her season debuts in opposition to the Lightning on Thursday.
New Jersey acquired the signing rights for the 24-year-old Bowers, who was initially the Senators’ twenty eighth total decide within the 2017 draft, from the Bruins in change for the rights to minor-league defenseman Reilly Walsh in a June 2023 commerce, the third time Bowers has been traded in his younger skilled profession. The Devils promptly inked Bowers to a one-year, two-way deal, which carries a $775K cap hit and sees him earn $125K within the minors this yr, the place he has six objectives and only one help in 29 video games with Utica. The Nova Scotian has one NHL sport to his title, taking three shifts as a member of the Avalanche in opposition to the Predators in November 2022 earlier than exiting with damage.
Foote was additionally a first-round decide, chosen 14 spots forward of Bowers by the Lightning in 2017. Dealt to the Predators final season within the Tanner Jeannot commerce, he grew to become a UFA final July after not receiving a qualifying supply. The Devils snapped him up in August, becoming a member of him within the group together with his brother, Nolan Foote, on a one-year, two-way cope with an $800K cap hit. The 25-year-old didn’t make the crew out of camp, however this isn’t his first recall of the season. He was rostered for eight video games in late October and early November, though he was a wholesome scratch for all of them. He’s logged 9 factors and a -14 ranking in 24 video games with Utica.
Given their pedestrian minor-league efficiency, Bowers and Foote will probably see restricted utilization throughout their time on the NHL roster. Foote’s recall offers the Devils 4 right-shot defensemen, which means one in all Foote, Marino, Nemec, or Colin Miller might want to shift to their off-side for Thursday’s sport and past.