Crookshank made his NHL debut with Ottawa last season, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games. The 25-year-old fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 33 points (18G / 15A) in 48 games with the Belleville Senators.
Crookshank made his NHL debut with Ottawa last season, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games. The 25-year-old fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 33 points (18G / 15A) in 48 games with the Belleville Senators.
Hischier missed six consecutive games leading up to the break for the 4-Nations Face Off but returned to practice this week and will likely play on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Hischier has 43 points (24G / 19A) in 51 games this season.
Hischier practiced for the first time since suffering an oblique injury on a hit from Nick Suzuki on January 25th. Hischier's return to practice suggests that he will play Saturday vs. the Stars, but expect an official update in the days leading up to their first game back.
Markstrom was placed on IR on Tuesday, but it was retroactive to January 22nd, meaning he's eligible to return whenever he is healthy enough. Markstrom was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury. He is four weeks into his initial 4-to-6 week timeline, so it looks like Markstrom is precisely on schedule.
Siegenthaler has been out since February 4th due to a lower-body injury and underwent a procedure during the Four Nations break. and will be re-evaluated in 2 to 3 weeks to lock down a more concrete timeline. The 27-year-old Swiss defender had been enjoying a decent 2024-25 campaign before his injury with two goals, nine points, 44 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus.
Allen will surprisingly get the start on Thursday after Nico Daws was in the starter's crease at the Devils morning skate. Allen struggled in his last outing, allowing four goals on 27 shots in a 4-3 loss in Buffalo on Sunday. The 34-year-old netminder owns an 8-10-1 record and a .903 SV% on the season. He draws a challenging matchup on Thursday as the Devils enter action at even odds on the money line.
Nemec started the season with the Devils but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 22 points (5G / 17A) in 32 games with the Utica Comets. The 20-year-old Slovak defenseman was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Daws was excellent in his season debut on Tuesday, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will likely return to the crease for a second consecutive start on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. In 21 AHL games this season, Daws is 5-14-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .888 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -100 home underdogs against a Golden Knights squad amid a four-game losing skid (0-2-2).
Siegenthaler departed Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury and did not return. During his post-game media availability, head coach Sheldon Keefe said that Siegenthaler "will miss time, for sure." Expect the Devils to recall a defenseman prior to Thursday's game vs. Vegas.
Siegenthaler left the game after suffering the injury in the first period and was unable to return. We should get an update on his status ahead of New Jersey's game against the Golden Knights on Thursday.
