.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly need to have in between 6 to 8 weeks to recuperate coming from a shoulder injury he experienced previously this month, the team claimed Thursday.Hughes suffered a nigh side shoulder accident throughout offseason training. After being actually evaluated by the Devils' health care team, it was calculated he would not demand surgical treatment which it can take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timeline suggests Hughes would skip the Devils' 7 preseason activities and their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 as well as Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might come back would certainly be actually the week of Oct. twenty, which implies the Devils would certainly have already played eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a short time frame happens after he used his rookie project to strengthen why he is actually taken into consideration one of the video game's brightest younger stars. Hughes completed last period along with six goals as well as 47 aspects while also being one of five Evil ones to play with all 82 games.What Hughes accomplished as a rookie resulted in him ending up 3rd in Calder Prize voting responsible for the eventual victor, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen who played all 82 games final time. They were actually also matched for 2nd among rookies in points with Bedard leading the game's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is cleared to return, he's expected to be a vital portion of the Devils' strategies to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the fourth choice of the 2021 NHL Draft, spent two years developing at the University of Michigan, which likewise made his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader who is actually also the reigning Norris Trophy winner for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after 2 seasons and also authorized his entry-level contract along with the Devils. It allowed him to join his bro and Adversaries alternative leader, Jack, for the group's playoff operate during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils won 52 games in the course of the 2022-23 time as well as advanced to the playoffs for the very first time in four seasons. They opened up with a first-round success over the competing New york city Rangers in seven activities just before shedding in the 2nd round against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time saw the Devils problem to locate congruity as well as skip the playoffs. It led to all of them parting means with crown train Lindy Ruff and also hiring acting coach Travis Environment-friendly prior to they after that hired previous Toronto Walnut Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in late May.