New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier has begun taking a leave of absence from the team to deal with “a family health issue.”
“The entire organization supports Timo and his family and appreciates everyone’s respect for their privacy at this time,” the Devils said in a statement Thursday.
The team did not know how long Meier, 29, would be away from the Devils.
Meier leads New Jersey with 11 goals and also has 12 assists in 30 games. In 80 games last season, Meier accumulated 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists).
Also Thursday, the Devils announced they had placed forward Evgenii Dadonov on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
Dadonov, 36, had an injury-plagued season, his first in New Jersey since signing a one-year, $1 million contract in July.
He missed 17 games after injuring his hand in the season-opening victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 9. Upon his return, he played only four games before suffering a wrist injury. He has no points for the season.
Last season with the Dallas Stars, he scored 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 80 games.
To complete the roster, the club recalled forward Xavier Parent from the Utica Comets.
Parent, 24, has played 20 games with the Comets this season and has six goals and six assists.
Parent’s first appearance with the Devils will mark his NHL debut.
–Field level media
