.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes are going to need between 6 to 8 weeks to recuperate coming from a shoulder accident he endured earlier this month, the crew pointed out Thursday.Hughes endured a left side shoulder personal injury in the course of offseason instruction. After being actually evaluated by the Devils' clinical workers, it was actually established he would not require surgery and that it could take greater than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timeline suggests Hughes would certainly miss the Devils' seven preseason video games and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly come back will be the week of Oct. 20, which means the Devils would certainly possess presently played eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief duration happens after he utilized his rookie project to reinforce why he is actually looked at one of the game's brightest youthful stars. Hughes finished last season along with six objectives as well as 47 points while likewise being one of 5 Adversaries to play in each 82 games.What Hughes completed as a newbie brought about him completing third in Calder Prize voting responsible for the resulting victor, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and Faber were the only novice defensemen who participated in all 82 video games last time. They were actually additionally matched for second one of rookies in factors with Bedard leading the game's first-year players along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to return, he is actually expected to become an essential component of the Devils' plans to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the fourth choice of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent pair of years cultivating at the Educational institution of Michigan, which likewise generated his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is also the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's best defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after pair of seasons and also signed his entry-level contract with the Devils. It enabled him to join his brother as well as Devils alternative captain, Port, for the staff's playoff operate during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 activities throughout the 2022-23 period and also accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in four periods. They opened up along with a first-round triumph over the rival Nyc Rangers in seven activities before losing in the second round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period viewed the Devils struggle to discover consistency and skip the playoffs. It triggered all of them parting methods with crown train Lindy Ruff as well as working with interim train Travis Environment-friendly prior to they after that chose previous Toronto Maple Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in late May.