Devils center Bobby Holik will require surgery on his broken right pinky and will miss three to four weeks, general manager Lou Lamoriello said today.
Holik was injured in the second period of Saturday's 4-3 shootout win in Washington.
"He's going to have surgery (Tuesday) and he'll be out three to four weeks," Lamoriello said. "That's standard."
In addition Lamoriello an MRI confirmed that forward Brian Rolston's high right ankle sprain is not more than a sprain, but he still doesn't know how much time he will miss.
"The MRI and the X-ray came back OK and now it's just a matter of waiting for the swelling to go down," Lamoirello said. "There is no timetable because you just don't know how long it's going to take."
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I asked Lamoriello about left wing Alexander Vasyunov, the team's 2006 second-round pick who is rumored to have left his team in Russia (Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL) to come play for the Devils' minor league affiliate in Lowell (AHL), but couldn't get anything out of him.
"I'm not going to comment on that," Lamoriello said.
Unless Lokomotiv lets Vasyunov out of his contract, it's a potentially tricky situation for the Devils becuase there is still no transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia. Vasyunov has played only two games for Lokomotiv this season and hasn't posted a point.
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Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, who was called up on an emergency basis, skated today at left wing on the fourth line with Mike Rupp at center and David Clarkson at right wing. Lamoriello said Leblond, who has an eight-stitch cut over his left eye from a fight in Friday night's game against Manchester, will make his NHL debut Wednesday night against Dallas at Prudential Center.
The other line combinations and the defense pairings were the same as Saturday night.
It's never good to be visited by the injury bug but the silver lining here is we get to see our future in Vrana and Leblond. They're both great players and I'm excited to see what they can do.
Posted by: Pete | October 20, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Hahaha. Gotta love Lou. "I'm not going to comment on that" = there's something going on.
Posted by: FOTC | October 20, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Good. Holik is useless.
Posted by: Pam | October 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM
This is bad news obviously as Holik centered the line with the most energy to this point of the year. He was playing at a level I thought might earn him a look between Elias and Vrana. Obviously this is a huge set back. Two free agent signings, two injuries. Talk about bad luck to start the season!
Posted by: Kevin | October 20, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Interesting commentary Pam! Thanks for the insight
Posted by: Kevin | October 20, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Pam,
Holik is not useless, what have you been watching.
He brought an annoying edge to the team and created quite a few scoring chances.
Posted by: Grand Master Devils Fan | October 20, 2008 at 01:44 PM
If we're gonna get hit with injuries, better to have it happen in October than in March!
Excited to see PL3 on Wednesday.
Posted by: Sarah | October 20, 2008 at 01:45 PM
So trying to read into "No comment" on Vasyunov I'm going to guess he's coming over but the Devils won't officially add him anywhere until they work something out with Lokomotiv. If they can't work something out then who knows?
Posted by: Scott731 | October 20, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I know this ticks off half the crowd but here it goes again...BRING IN SHANNY!
Posted by: DevilfanFLA | October 20, 2008 at 01:55 PM
i just wish the NHL and the KHL could figure it out already and come to some sort of agreement. Do i think we could use Vasyunov? not really, maybe to see what he can do in Lowell, but i am much more excited for the future that Halischuk brings. Someone on another board had posted that Vasyunov and Cherepanov were good friends and that the two of them had both planned on coming across the atlantic together next season, and once Cherepanov died, he just wanted to leave. Dunno if any of it is true, but some guy posted it else where figured i would share!
GO BLONDIE GET THAT BARBIE DOLL PLAYING WITH, PURSE SHOPPING a$$ on Wed.
Posted by: Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti) | October 20, 2008 at 01:56 PM
just say no to shanny
Posted by: Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti) | October 20, 2008 at 01:57 PM
I think for the most part it would be better for the Devils to get Vasyunov to North America and playing in Lowell, so he can get used to the game over here -- particularly if he's not playing over there.
Posted by: TG | October 20, 2008 at 02:06 PM
TG, do you know what number was given to P3L? he should skate with number 33 or something to that effect,
Posted by: LucasS | October 20, 2008 at 02:09 PM
bad news about PL3 having a stitched up face, that usually means a guy won't fight; altho he is a young kid and wants to make the most of his time here, so it wouldnt shock me to see him drop the gloves anyway.
Posted by: maddening11 | October 20, 2008 at 02:11 PM
He'll drop the gloves, but will Avery?
Posted by: DevilFanfromQuebec | October 20, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Well hopefully Vasyunov does come and hopefully he can be an impact player. As for the stitches in Blondies face... where did you hear that Maddening11
Posted by: Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti) | October 20, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Again, Avery is not a fighter, he isn't going to drop the gloves with a heavyweight. You might get him to go with Clarkson, but more likely he will try to fight Langenbrunner or Gionta.
Posted by: Jason | October 20, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Avery will probably try to pick a fight with Sutter, he is such a D-bag. i think the fans should bring barbie dolls to the game and toss them over the glass at him while he is on the bench
Posted by: Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti) | October 20, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Hey TG, EJ Hradek and Don La Greca mentioned Rolston was out for three weeks on their NHL Live show today. I know Bob McKenzie was on the show today too, is it possible that's a scoop from him? Or are they just guessing?
Posted by: dhoch08 | October 20, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Pearl Jammed - Lamoriello said Leblond has an eight-stitch cut over his left eye from a fight in Friday night's Lowell game against Manchester.
Posted by: Matt McNaught | October 20, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I think it's just guessing. Everyone is guessing. My guess would be at least three weeks, but probably more.
If the Devils get him back before Thanksgiving, I think they'll be fortunate.
Posted by: TG | October 20, 2008 at 02:32 PM
So much emphasis on Avery. Forget him. He's been ineffective in Dallas. Only if he starts falling on top of Brodeur again, or taking other liberties with our players, then get him off the ice for 5. Otherwise, let him dig his own grave as an unproductive forward. The Devils need to worry about the likes of Modano, Morrow, Brunnstrom, Ribeiro, Robidas, and Richards.
Besides, if the Hockey Night Live crew on MSG is to be believed, the Rags locker room is just as anxious to take a shot at Avery as some Devils fans are. Let the Rags lose by putting too much focus on him, and let Colton Orr bust a metacarpal on Avery's orbital bone. We have enough broken fingers right now...
Posted by: redank | October 20, 2008 at 02:34 PM
"I'm not going to comment on that" = Lou being Lou, needing to control everything.
TG didn't mention that Lou then angrily turned to his wife and said "Where's my Hossenpfeffer?!!!"
===
prokat - i dont think we are mottau bashing as much as wishing others would be tried in top-4 slots.
Posted by: SonicDude | October 20, 2008 at 02:48 PM
I know this wont happen, but i have to say it anyway. all those who attend the game on wednesday SHOULD NOT booo avery. thats what that little ****** wants. of course its going to happen and ill take part in it also, but were just giving in to him. he better not touch marty or ill jump over the glass myself.
Posted by: Ray | October 20, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Not for anything, but Marty isn't a small guy either at 6'2 215 (though more like 230). He could certainly stand up for himself once in a while if he needed to, especially if it bothers him that much, and his teamates arent getting the job done. Much like people say you wouldnt see Avery doing this if Stevens was around, you wouldnt see Avery pulling his crap against Ron Hextall either.
Posted by: Jason | October 20, 2008 at 03:02 PM