There’s a great amount of uncertainty as to when Mike Cammalleri will return to the New Jersey Devils.
“He’s going through the rehab process,” Devils GM Ray Shero said, per NorthJersey.com. “There’s not really a target date in mind for him to return to play, but he’s trying to return to play.
“Like with anything, he’s got to rehab this thing and get it stronger and, hopefully, have a return date and try to help us.”
Cammalleri has been plagued by an unspecified hand/wrist ailment since early January. He missed eight games with it before returning to play four, then landed back on the shelf and has since missed another eight.
To say the Devils could use Cammalleri would be a huge understatement. The NHL’s worst offense (2.21 goals per game) desperately needs his production and playmaking ability -- despite missing so many games, he still sits second on the team in points (38) and assists (24).
Cammalleri would also be a huge boon for the club’s playoff chances.
Heading into tonight’s action, the Devils were sitting in the first of two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference, but were just one point up on Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. And over the last 10 games -- in which they’ve gone 5-3-2 -- the Devils have scored just 19 times.
“He’s a key guy for our hockey team,” Shero said. “It would be great to have him back at some point.”