.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL press reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly require between six to eight weeks to recover coming from a shoulder injury he experienced previously this month, the team claimed Thursday.Hughes experienced a nigh side shoulder injury during offseason training. After being actually examined by the Devils' clinical personnel, it was actually determined he would not need surgery and that it can take greater than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timeline indicates Hughes will miss the Devils' 7 preseason games and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly return would be actually the week of Oct. 20, which means the Devils would possess presently participated in 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief time period follows he utilized his novice project to strengthen why he's thought about among the game's brightest younger superstars. Hughes ended up last period with six goals as well as 47 factors while additionally being just one of 5 Adversaries to play with all 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie triggered him ending up third in Calder Trophy voting behind the possible champion, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were the only newbie defensemen who played all 82 games final period. They were actually also matched for 2nd one of novices in points with Bedard leading the league's first-year players along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually gotten rid of to come back, he's assumed to be an important aspect of the Devils' programs to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the 4th choice of the 2021 NHL Draft, spent pair of years establishing at the University of Michigan, which likewise created his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader who is actually also the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after pair of seasons as well as authorized his entry-level deal along with the Devils. It enabled him to join his bro and also Adversaries alternating leader, Jack, for the group's playoff operate during the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 activities during the 2022-23 period and also progressed to the playoffs for the first time in 4 times. They opened up along with a first-round victory over the competing Nyc Rangers in 7 activities just before losing in the second around versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season viewed the Devils struggle to discover congruity and also skip the playoffs. It caused them parting techniques along with head trainer Lindy Ruff and also working with interim coach Travis Environment-friendly just before they then worked with previous Toronto Walnut Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in late May.