Is there a Doctor in the House? (Holik and Rolston out of line-up)

The Devils top two free agent signings of the off-season will not be in the line-up anytime in the near future. Rolston injured his ankle in the Atlanta game and Holik left the Washington game with what they called a broken pinkie finger.

Holik will be out 3 to 4 weeks after having surgery to repair the broken finger. With the injury to Holik the Devils have called up Pierre-Luc Letrourneau-Leblond from Lowell. The 6-2 210lb Letrourneau-Leblond, will play left wing on a line centered by Mike Rupp and David Clarkson on right wing. At 22 years of age Letrourneau-Leblond is the youngest Devil to make their NHL appearance this season (Vrana 23, Salmella 24). In 4 games this season at Lowell he has accumulated 32 minutes in penalties. Do not expect the rookie to put the puck in the net, but he will hit a few guys around and throw some fists.

MRI and X-Rays on Brian Rolston were clean but no timetable has been set for his return. Rolston signed a 4-year deal this off-season with the Devils and his and Holik's presence is important to the Devils success this season. Rookie Petr Vrana will continue to play on the top line with Zubrus and Elias for the time being.

Notes:
Letourneau-Leblond was called up because he fits on the fourth line and fills the toughness and size lost with Holik out of the line-up. But was he the best call-up at this time? The Devils struggling for offense may be better served by calling up Jon DiSalvatore (1G-6A), veteran center Pascal Rheaume or even possibly winger Nicholas Bergfors (1G-5A). All of whom have NHL experience or saw time with the Devils late into the pre-season.