.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will require in between six to eight full weeks to recoup from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the staff stated Thursday.Hughes went through a left shoulder trauma throughout offseason instruction. After being assessed due to the Devils' health care workers, it was actually calculated he would certainly not require surgical operation and also it could possibly take more than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timetable indicates Hughes would overlook the Devils' seven preseason video games and their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could come back would be the full week of Oct. twenty, which suggests the Devils would certainly possess actually participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a brief time frame comes after he used his rookie initiative to improve why he is actually looked at among the game's brightest young stars. Hughes finished final season along with six targets as well as 47 factors while likewise being among five Adversaries to play with all 82 games.What Hughes accomplished as a novice resulted in him ending up 3rd in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the ultimate champion, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen who participated in all 82 games final time. They were also matched for second amongst rookies in aspects along with Bedard leading the league's first-year players along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually removed to return, he is actually assumed to be a vital aspect of the Devils' plans to return to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the fourth selection of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested pair of years building at the Educational institution of Michigan, which likewise created his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain that is actually likewise the ruling Norris Prize champion for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after 2 times and also authorized his entry-level contract with the Devils. It permitted him to join his brother and also Evil ones alternate captain, Jack, for the group's playoff run throughout the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils succeeded 52 video games in the course of the 2022-23 period and also accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in 4 periods. They opened up along with a first-round victory over the rivalrous Nyc Rangers in 7 video games before losing in the 2nd round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season found the Devils problem to locate congruity and overlook the playoffs. It caused all of them parting ways with crown instructor Lindy Ruff and also choosing acting coach Travis Green just before they after that hired former Toronto Maple Leafs train Sheldon Keefe in old Might.