Devils’ Erik Haula could miss a few weeks with ankle sprain

On Monday, the New Jersey Devils announced that forward Erik Haula is day-to-day with an ankle injury and is expected to undergo further testing.

However, after an optional morning skate, head coach Sheldon Keefe told the media that Haula could miss a few weeks due to an ankle sprain. Keefe also confirmed that Haula will be re-evaluated by team doctors when the team returns to New Jersey on Wednesday.

The Devils are scheduled to face the Seattle Kraken on Monday night and will return home before visiting the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Suspicions arose about an ailment when Haula was noticeably absent from the team’s practice on Sunday. With Haula out for the foreseeable future, it looks like forward Justin Dowling might be filling in on the team’s third line alongside Paul Cotter and Dawson Mercer.

Haula has been very healthy this year so far, having played all 42 games for the Devils thus far. He only missed six games last season, a few due to injury and one due to the birth of his child back in January.

In the first two-plus months of the 2024-25 season, the 33-year-old has scored five goals and six assists for 11 points. He has registered a plus/minus of -6 while averaging 14:27 of ice time per game.

Haula’s production is far below last season’s pace, which saw the former Minnesota Wild winger score 35 points in 76 games. He had posted over 40 points during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns, with Haula setting a career-high with 55 points during the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season in 2017-18.

In 732 NHL appearances, Haula has scored 147 goals and 180 assists, including 36 points in 73 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Devils (24-15-3) are second in the Metropolitan Division, four points back of the first-place Washington Capitals.