.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly need to have in between 6 to 8 full weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder injury he experienced earlier this month, the staff stated Thursday.Hughes went through a left shoulder accident throughout offseason instruction. After being actually analyzed by the Devils' clinical personnel, it was actually determined he would not demand surgical operation and also it might take greater than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timeline implies Hughes will miss the Devils' 7 preseason activities as well as their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he can return would certainly be actually the full week of Oct. 20, which suggests the Devils would certainly possess already participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a short period comes after he used his novice initiative to improve why he is actually thought about one of the game's brightest youthful superstars. Hughes ended up last time with 6 goals and 47 aspects while also being just one of five Adversaries to play with all 82 games.What Hughes accomplished as a rookie triggered him ending up third in Calder Trophy voting behind the ultimate winner, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were actually the only newbie defensemen who participated in all 82 activities last season. They were actually also matched for second among newbies in points along with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers with 61 points.Once Hughes is removed to come back, he's expected to be an essential component of the Devils' strategies to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, spent two years building at the College of Michigan, which also made his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is actually also the reigning Norris Prize winner for the NHL's best defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after 2 periods as well as authorized his entry-level arrangement along with the Devils. It permitted him to join his sibling as well as Devils alternative captain, Port, for the group's playoff operate during the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 video games in the course of the 2022-23 time as well as progressed to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They opened with a first-round triumph over the competing New york city Rangers in 7 games just before shedding in the 2nd around against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period viewed the Devils struggle to find uniformity and also skip the playoffs. It resulted in all of them parting techniques along with head trainer Lindy Ruff and also choosing interim coach Travis Environment-friendly just before they then worked with previous Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe in late Might.