New Jersey Devils: Mirco Mueller Returns To The Team
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils welcome back a forgotten face in Mirco Mueller. If he can play like he did prior to his injury, it could really elevate the defense.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Mirco Mueller on the ice in a New Jersey Devils uniform. When he left, the team had just beaten the Chicago Blackhawks after scoring seven goals on Corey Crawford on November 12th. Adam Henrique was one of two forwards to go pointless. Sami Vatanen was coming off 23 minutes in a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brian Boyle had one goal on the season, while Travis Zajac was still working his way back.
What I’m trying to say is this is a completely different team than the last time Mueller was on the roster. Mueller broke his clavicle in that game against the Blackhawks, playing just 18 seconds before the injury.
Now, Mueller is back. He’s returned to the NHL roster after his conditioning stint with the Binghamton Devils. His stint wasn’t great, but there are some real issues in Binghamton this year. Players just haven’t played well in the AHL this season.
Mueller was just there the get his legs back. Now that he’s slightly back up to speed, he’s back practicing with the Devils.
The 22-year-old Mueller has been up and down all season long. He’s played 13 games, but only took four shots all year. After showcasing his booming shot in the preseason, we need more of it when he returns.
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Mueller started the season pretty poorly, but gained confidence starting in November. He clearly wasn’t going to make the same impact that Sami Vatanen has, but he was a good enough player to demand ice time.
Mueller can really round out this Devils lineup nicely. While Ben Lovejoy has played well, he is still prone to the back-breaking mistake that could ruin a game. It usually happens when he’s in his own zone and trying to start a break out. Mueller is a very good passer, who can play the breakout well.
No word yet whether Mueller will inject himself right into the lineup, or if head coach John Hynes wants him to practice with the team some more. Either way, it’s always nice to get a player off injured reserve. Mueller can make a decent sized impact if he can play like he did before his injury.