Well, things have gone from bad to worse for the Albany Devils. The Devils announced today that forward Adam Henrique, who was a Calder candidate last season in New Jersey, will need surgery to repair the UCL in his left thumb. It is expected that Henrique will miss the next 4-6 weeks.
This is a really tough break for both Albany and Henrique. Albany goes through a struggle each and every night to try and pick up any point they can get and this injury certainly won't help their cause. As for Henrique, he was finally starting to produce at the rate he should (had five points in his last four games before suffering the injury).
I would expect that Jacob Josefson will get even more ice time in Albany now.
This is the suck. He was supposed to replace Parise too, and had finally been looking too good for the AHL the last couple weeks after just coasting early. Now we have no one to replace Parise, no Sykie, no Henrique, and still question marks in Tedenby, and Butler. Of course this only applies if we have an NHL season, and it starts before mid January which I don't think it will start earlier than that if there is one. If there still is 2 more months or more of this, we have quite a few other guys in the A, and in Europe that we'll need, and hope for the best.
If Josefson stays healthy though I think he can replace Henrique's play last season. Maybe not 51 points(Or adjusted to however many games we play) but 15 goals, and maybe 40 points for sure. I'll also blow a gasket if he isn't on the FIRST PK unit!
This is the suck. He was supposed to replace Parise too, and had finally been looking too good for the AHL the last couple weeks after just coasting early. Now we have no one to replace Parise, no Sykie, no Henrique, and still question marks in Tedenby, and Butler. Of course this only applies if we have an NHL season, and it starts before mid January which I don't think it will start earlier than that if there is one. If there still is 2 more months or more of this, we have quite a few other guys in the A, and in Europe that we'll need, and hope for the best.
If Josefson stays healthy though I think he can replace Henrique's play last season. Maybe not 51 points(Or adjusted to however many games we play) but 15 goals, and maybe 40 points for sure. I'll also blow a gasket if he isn't on the FIRST PK unit!
If it's a short season, and the Devils have to start it without Henrique... I believe that would pretty much guarantee Lou bringing Sykora back.
If it's a short season, and the Devils have to start it without Henrique... I believe that would pretty much guarantee Lou bringing Sykora back.
I think so too, but he said so himself that if this isn't fixed by Christmas, he'll start looking to play over in the Czech or somewhere in Europe. I can see a deal getting done early January, and the season starts two weeks later. Kinda identical to 94/95 lockout. I kinda wished he'd bring him back anyway. Now I'm kinda hoping the season don't start until January, unless we make some kind of a trade.
Also increases the chances of Barch, or Janssen in the lineup nightly.
I think so too, but he said so himself that if this isn't fixed by Christmas, he'll start looking to play over in the Czech or somewhere in Europe. I can see a deal getting done early January, and the season starts two weeks later. Kinda identical to 94/95 lockout. I kinda wished he'd bring him back anyway. Now I'm kinda hoping the season don't start until January, unless we make some kind of a trade.
Also increases the chances of Barch, or Janssen in the lineup nightly.
If this isn't fixed by Christmas, we won't have to worry about missing Henrique for more than a handful of games.
If this isn't fixed by Christmas, we won't have to worry about missing Henrique for more than a handful of games.
I know, but I still want Sykie back anyway. Unless we can find a better option than that. I really don't see the point in holding onto an extra D man. First of all it causes us to be shorthanded in forwards unless one is on LTIR. This is including Harrold as a D man, and not a forward. Second even with 7 including Harrold, he'd probably still be sitting most games unless someone needs a rest. If multiple D men are out, I feel Gelinas, and Urbom can easily take over in a bottom pairing role at the least.
Sykora could look pretty good with us again. I predicted a 20 goal season when it was announced he made the team out of camp, and got laughed at. I was wrong! He hit 21! I think we can get another season, especially shortened out of that carcass!
Just get rid of a D man. No reason to carry 8. It shorthands us forwards. Most teams go 7 D, 14 F, 2 G, on a 21 man roster. With 8 D men we'd have 8 D, 13 F, 2 G. We're already shorthanded a forward spot before Henrique's injury. Even if we just get a rental who's a UFA that we won't sign next year. I'd feel a lot more confident with at least one of Poni, or Sykora right about now.
There's little reason to play Elias at center with Zajac, Josefson, and Henrique available and Parise gone, at least once Henrique gets back.
If Henrique is out when the season starts, I would temporarily put Elias in at center instead of bumping Josefson up.
There's too much up in the air with Clarkson/Tedenby/Butler/Sykora in the top 9 to risk pulling his defense off the 3rd line.
There's little reason to play Elias at center with Zajac, Josefson, and Henrique available and Parise gone, at least once Henrique gets back.
I agree, Patty is terrible at faceoffs too. If he's a center while Henrique is out, that's no big deal. There is absolutely no reason to play him at center if Zajac, Josefson, and Henrique are in the lineup. Patty annoyed me on faceoffs on the PK in the playoffs. Zubrus is a better option to take faceoffs.
I kinda wanna see Josefson centering Patty. Josefson is pretty good at faceoffs, but he hasn't exactly been matched up with prime competition yet. Nevertheless I'd love to see him taking draws on the PK. He could easily take over Parise's spot on the first PK unit, and save guys like Kovy time, so he can save it for the PP.
You know your in trouble when people are remarking about faceoffs when discussing centers. Elias plays the center position miles better than Henrique. He is better defensively, in the neutral zone and distributing the puck. Henrique is a winger moving forward.
I think we can get another season, especially shortened out of that carcass!
