On Thursday, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk will undergo season-ending surgery on an undisclosed upper-body injury.
Gritsyuk last played on March 24 against the Dallas Stars. He left the game during the third period and didn’t return to the bench. He was expected to be week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Gritsyuk signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Devils during the 2025 offseason, and this was his rookie campaign, playing 66 NHL games and scoring 31 points (13 goals and 18 assists). He was used in both the top-six and the bottom-six, finding scoring chances wherever he played in the lineup. Before his injury, he was paired with Cody Glass and Lenni Hameenaho on the third line.
Gritsyuk also took to his favorite social media platform, Telegram, to share a more personal note with fans, stating, “Unfortunately, my first season in the NHL has ended prematurely; I need surgery and recovery afterwards. This is a forced measure for now, and I hope this injury won’t bother me in the future.”
Keefe also added that Gritsyuk wanted to return, but after discussing his situation with medical professionals, it was deemed best to fix the injury now and make sure he is healed in time for the start of the 2026-27 season.
This is a tough break for both the Devils’ offense and for Gritsyuk, after putting together a strong season. He will be a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer, but the Devils will likely re-sign him to give Gritsyuk a chance to play a full season and really show what he is capable of.
The Devils host the Washington Capitals tonight at 7 PM ET.
