Devils Lose Another Defenseman to Injury
Topias Vilen suffered an upper-body injury against the New York Rangers on Sept. 30.
Sep 24, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils defenseman Topias Vilen (38) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images - Devils Lose Another Defenseman to InjuryNEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils have lost another defenseman to injury.
On Tuesday afternoon, Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen provided an update on Topias Vilen, 21.
"It is probably going to be three or four weeks," Dineen said. "He has an upper-body injury that was not anything too violent, but it is going to be a little while before he is back in the lineup."
Vilen was limited to 13:56 of ice time on Monday night against the New York Rangers. The young defenseman sustained his injury in the second period and did not play the final 20 minutes.
The Finnish blueliner joins fellow defensemen Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Santeri Hatakka, who are sidelined by injuries.
Another injury to the Devils' defensive core means more opportunities for Jakub Zboril and Andy Welinski, who are on professional tryouts and trying to earn a contract for the 2024-25 season.
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