New Jersey Devils: Adam Henrique to Miss 4-6 Weeks with Thumb Injury

Adam Henrique will undergo surgery on his left thumb after injuring his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) during the Albany Devils' 5-4 shootout loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday.

The injury was not thought to be too serious until an MRI showed otherwise, as per Rich Chere via NJ.com: 

"

Henrique suffered ulnar collateral ligament damage during the first period of Sunday's game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that was played in Atlantic City. He did not believe the injury was serious, but an MRI on Monday showed the damage.

"

The injury will sideline Henrique for four to six weeks.

Henrique, who is an assistant captain on the Albany Devils, is fourth on the team in points with five goals and three assists in 16 games. The injury to Henrique will be devastating to the Albany Devils, who currently are in last place in the Northeast Division.

The Calder Trophy finalist recorded 51 points in the NHL last season and tied for the league high in shorthanded points with seven.

Henrique’s excellent play carried into the playoffs where he was an asset in the Devils' Stanley Cup run. His 13 points were good for fifth on the team, and he scored two overtime series-winning goals, one against the Florida Panthers and one against the New York Rangers.

If mediators help speed up the bargaining process, and the NHL and NHLPA reach a CBA agreement within the next couple of weeks, the Devils will be without Henrique to begin the season.

The Devils faced similar adversity to begin last season when center Travis Zajac injured his Achilles tendon during an off-ice preseason workout.

Henrique is the second player on the Devils that has been injured during the lockout. Anton Volchenkov, who fractured his ankle in a KHL game in October, was expected to miss four to six weeks, but he has yet to return to play. 

Follow Alex Bacon on Twitter @abacon55.