.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes are going to require between six to 8 weeks to bounce back coming from a shoulder injury he went through previously this month, the staff said Thursday.Hughes went through a left side shoulder injury during offseason training. After being actually analyzed due to the Devils' medical personnel, it was determined he would certainly not call for surgery and also it might take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timeline implies Hughes would certainly overlook the Devils' 7 preseason games and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly return would be the full week of Oct. twenty, which means the Devils would possess currently played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a brief time frame happens after he utilized his novice campaign to reinforce why he's considered among the video game's brightest younger celebrities. Hughes finished last season along with six targets as well as 47 aspects while also being just one of 5 Devils to play in all 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie brought about him completing 3rd in Calder Prize voting behind the ultimate victor, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen who played all 82 activities final season. They were actually likewise tied for 2nd amongst newbies in points with Bedard leading the game's first-year gamers with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually removed to return, he's assumed to become an important component of the Devils' strategies to go back to the playoffs. Hughes, that was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested pair of years developing at the University of Michigan, which likewise made his bro Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is likewise the ruling Norris Prize champion for the NHL's finest defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after two periods and signed his entry-level arrangement with the Devils. It allowed him to join his brother as well as Adversaries alternate captain, Jack, for the staff's playoff operate during the course of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 activities during the course of the 2022-23 period and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 4 periods. They opened up along with a first-round triumph over the competing Nyc Rangers in seven activities before shedding in the 2nd around versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period saw the Devils battle to locate uniformity as well as miss out on the playoffs. It brought about all of them parting ways along with head coach Lindy Ruff and also working with interim coach Travis Veggie before they after that employed former Toronto Walnut Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe in old Might.