New Jersey Devils: Mirco Mueller Leaves Game After Scary Hit

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 27: Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils is taken off the ice after a third period injury against the Calgary Flames at the Prudential Center on February 27, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Flames defeated the devils 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 27: Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils is taken off the ice after a third period injury against the Calgary Flames at the Prudential Center on February 27, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Flames defeated the devils 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New Jersey Devils are already dealing with a depleted lineup thanks to injuries and trades, but a scary hit to Mirco Mueller adds to that list.

It was dead silent. You could hear a pin drop. Use whatever trope you want, it was downright scary when New Jersey Devils defenseman Mirco Mueller went head first into the boards during the third period of their contest with the Calgary Flames.

We don’t need to show you the hit, because it’s definitely NSFW. Basically, Mueller was coming down on a two-on-one with Travis Zajac. On the pass over, he barely got a stick on the puck, then lost the footing on his left foot. Michael Frolik was riding him trying to make the shot harder, but neither could stop after going full speed. It ended up putting Mueller head first into the boards. The scene afterwards was a scary one.

When the hit first happened, Mueller did not move, and it looked like his eyes were closed. It was a sight nobody wants to see, but comes too often in a violent game like hockey. It wasn’t a dirty hit, and it wasn’t something that should come with a rule change. It was just a slip that went in the worst possible way.

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He was stretchered off the ice, which is something Devils fans haven’t seen in a very long time. Mueller was able to give a thumbs up as he was wheeled off the ice, obviously a good sign. We learned in the postgame show that Mueller had all feeling in his extremities, but he was being taken to University Hospital for more testing.

We’re waiting on an update on Mueller’s injury from the New Jersey Devils. We will update you once we have that.

The injury is one that will have long-term impacts. Egor Yakovlev will likely take his spot on the defense, and Eric Gryba is probably next in line for a call up. The Devils already had barely anyone from the regular lineup in today’s lineup, and it’s about to get worse. Blake Coleman, Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac were the only forwards from opening night that played tonight.

Mueller is likely out for a long time. This appears to be at minimum a bad concussion. We can talk about the long-term ramifications at a later date, but for now we just hope Mueller is okay.