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Devils confirm Merrill suffered concussion in NHL debut

Jon Merrill

New Jersey Devils defenseman Jon Merrill (34) is helped up from the ice after he was tripped by Minnesota Wild center Torrey Mitchell during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Merrill left the game. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

AP

New Jersey defenseman Jon Merrill has a bright future ahead of him, but the 21-year-old’s career has gotten off to an unfortunate start. In just his third NHL shift early in the first period of the Devils’ 4-0 loss on Nov. 3, Merrill was tripped and crashed into the boards as a result.

When he got up, it was obvious that he had some significant facial lacerations, but it wasn’t immediately clear if he had suffered a concussion. Devils coach Pete DeBoer confirmed on Friday that Merrill is dealing with one and that’s what’s keeping him on the sidelines, according to the Bergen Record.

The good news is that Merrill was back on the ice yesterday. That’s a step that his concussed teammate, forward Ryane Clowe, hasn’t been able to take yet.

New Jersey suffered a 2-0 loss against Los Angeles last night, but they have a chance to put that behind them tonight versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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