2. Jacob Markstrom and Nico Hischier returning soon
This slump didn’t start with injuries, but it has certainly been exasperated by them. It started with Jacob Markstrom, who had a scary injury that turned into a knee sprain. It could have been much worse, so that was a relief. He should be back pretty soon after the 4 Nations. Jake Allen has been playing well enough since the injury, but Markstrom was up there with the best in the league when he went out. The Devils will welcome him back with open arms, as it likely would have helped in their last game against the Buffalo Sabres.
The more important return is that of Nico Hischier. His injury was more of a mystery, as right after he was cross-checked illegally in the ribs, he returned to the game the next period for a shift. Obviously, it was somewhat worse than we expected, but he’s also expected to return after the 4 Nations break, if not before.
Getting more help offensively is essential for this team. Hischier is as important a piece as any they could get on the market. He is their best offensive weapon this season.
On top of that, it will be nice to get a stolen game here and there from Markstrom. Allen is a great backup, but he’s not “steal a game” level at this point in his career. He’s enough to get some wins while we await Markstrom’s return.