One of the highlights of returning to the NHL for Devils defenseman Simon Nemec was going back to his New Jersey apartment. Nemec made the opening night roster in October after playing 60 games with the Devils last season. He expected to stay in the NHL and be a contributor for a playoff-hungry Devils team for his second season.

The New Jersey Devils have recalled defenseman Simon Nemec from their AHL affiliate Utica Comets. Nemec was an AHL All-Star and has five goals and 22 points in 32 games with Utica this season. The second overall pick in the 2022 draft, Nemec expressed some frustration with the fact he was still in the AHL earlier this year.

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 25, the team announced Thursday. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said he expects Hischier to be ready to play after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.