Rolston, Martin injury update

Paul Martin did not practice again this morning because of upper body soreness. Devils coach Brent Sutter said Martin is day to day, but he is preparing as if Martin won't play in Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said that Brian Rolston skated briefly this morning and is "progressing." It was the second time Rolston was on the ice since he suffered a high right ankle sprain on Oct. 16 in Atlanta.

There is still no timetable for his return.

Bobby Holik still has not begun even off-ice workouts following his surgery two weeks ago to repair a broken right pinky because of fear of infection. Lamoriello said Holik has to see the doctor one more time before being cleared to exercise.

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond remains day to day with a cracked orbital bone and has not practiced in a week.

Comments

[Nick]

Bad news Marty is out for 3 to 4 months. Good news is Weeks looked ridiculously good last night. If he continues to play that way, we'll have a chance to win every night but the guys need to score some goals particularly on the PP. Goal tending isn't the biggest concern right now, the defense, Weeks and Clemmensen can hold down the fort until Marty gets back in between the pipes but the O needs to put some rubber in the opposition's net, thats the concern.

[Pando20Rules]

and the good news keeps coming.......

[J-Remy]

Thsnks for all the updates. Nice interview on NHL Live, TG.

[jason]

TG, are you forced to go through Lou the Liar? Can't you ask Rolston/Holik face to face how they are doing?

[Robbie]

TG will Leblond be getting surgery for the cracked orbitial bone or will it heal on its own?

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

The players probably aren't at the rock to ask them thats why TG hasn't asked them anything, because they aren't there to ask. And even if they were, you would just hear the party line, of "Oh i feel ok" or "I'm Progressing, i should be back soon enough". whatever it is what it is.

but i gotta say......
Seriously there is more panic on this board today than there was on Wall St. 2 weeks ago. Injuries are a part of the game and they happen. The Devils have been if not Dominant than at least a playoff team every year since 1997, and yes ALOT of that has to do with Marty Brodeur, but its not like he did it ALL himself. Many players have come and gone from the team between 1997 and now, and yet we still remained a great team. And we still can be a great team. The pieces are there for us to have the capability(once Rolston and Holik come back) to score with some of the bigger boys in the league, we just need focus AND FOR PETES SAKE SOME FRICKEN POISE OUT THERE. Our Vets need to lead and show the guys who are up from the minor leagues how to play the game without panic. Its time to STEP IT UP! this means you Langenbrunner, AND YOU ELIAS!

BTW its not a slap in the face to weekes to have Clemmer start one of the games this weekend, Weekes started monday, he will Start wed, and then we are IN Detroit saturday, and then back home again on Sunday, Weekes is good but he isn't Marty.

SO SINCE THE LATE 80'S I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT, AND I PLAN TO SAY IT UNTIL THE DAY I DIE..... NO MATTER WHAT THE TEAM LOOKS LIKE
LETS GO DEVILS!!!

SAY IT WITH ME PEOPLE IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER!

LETS GO DEVILS!!!!!

[Jill]

only good news coming out of today: Zach Parise on the all-star ballot for the first time...finally.

[Kelly]

Why can't Holik do a little off ice conditioning on a bike or treadmill? He doesn't need to use his hands at moderate levels. Is Rolston doing anything like physical therapy? What is Martin and P3L doin off ice? The sooner they're ready to go back out there, the better.

[Jill]

I agree with you Pearl. I'm not panicking, but I am pretty upset. I ALWAYS have confidence in this team but it is Martin Brodeur so there always is an element of disappointment.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

It hurts to lose Marty, but we have to all stay positive, and to the fans that are ready to jump ship.... i guess we the real fans will see you guys in the second round of the playoffs when EVERYONE is a Devils fan again.
I will be there both Wed. night and Sunday night screaming my head off from my perch in 216 like i do EVERY NIGHT, and i hope to see all of you out there.

Where this is disappointing for me is that Marty is due back in Feb. or March, and my son is due to be born in late Feb. so knowing my luck i will have to miss the game.... that to me is the only bummer.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

That and we have survived without Stevens, Niedermayer, Arnott.. you name it and we still made the playoffs. Keep your heads held high true believers and we will be back

[Pando20Rules]

i'll be there Wednesday night, but I hope they don't have to end up asking fans to suit up with all of the injuries...... I'm not very good. :)

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

Hell i will step in and play a little D!

[Prokat]

I agree 100% with Pearl.
For example:
The Patriots lost Brady and Cassell is doing a fine job. It's the system that's keeping them in the games. If Weeks and Clem step it up then a 'rising tide lifts all boats'. The Team will be OK.
Enough of all the negativity. The glass will be 1/2 full until Marty gets back from my perspective.
I also think that many Devils players and their families read 'Fire and Ice'.
Let's try to keep it upbeat as much as possible.
It isn't the end of the world.
The team will be just fine.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

Amen Prokat! and if needbe, i will be more than happy to play a little D should it be needed... i may be a little rusty on my skates but NOBODY will be taking any liberties with Weekes while i was out there.

We need to stay positive, this team is pretty good as assembled with or without Marty(obviously better with than without) and once we get Martin and Greene back i think things will be alot better.

Wouldn't it be great if the team came out next Wed. and slapped the Rangers around without Marty

[Pando20Rules]

i think once the inital shock wears off, we'll be fine.

Good call Prokat, I've always thought there were similarities between the Patriots and the Devils, in how their organizations are all about winning. Let's prove my theory correct here fellas, rally around it, have it us against the world. (Hasn't it always been anyway?) Nothing new here fellas..... let's go Devils!

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

By the way, let all the first time posters do and say what they want to on the other ALERT: post, i won't join the pity party, i wanna talk about playing Devils Hockey within the system and how were gonna get through this and still be a playoff team, which i know we will be!

So from here on out i am not looking at ALERT: and i think loyal readers and posters here should try to do the same

[TG]

Lamoriello said Holik can't do anything because of the possility of infection.

And I haven't seen Holik since about two days after his surgery when he showed up at practice and we got to speak to him for a few minutes. I have not seen Rolston since he walked out of Philips Arena on crutches on Oct. 16.

[Kelly]

Why can't they let you do your job, TG? Everyone wants answers... haha

[Shari]

I'm not in full panic mode, because I've seen The Dev's at their worst from the good ol days and Lou will NEVER let This Team go back to that. I'm not dancing in the streets either, for all of the talk and the same old lines of having to tighten up, play bettter, play a solid 60 etc, etc, etc, if They just stop talking about it and just do it They can win. They rely too much on Marty to bail Them out anyway, now We will see who will step up, and Who the Prof Athletes really are on this Team, Zach and Sal can't do it all.