.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL press reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly require in between six to eight full weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder accident he experienced previously this month, the group pointed out Thursday.Hughes suffered a left shoulder injury during offseason instruction. After being actually analyzed by the Devils' health care team, it was actually established he would certainly not call for surgical procedure and that it might take much more than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline means Hughes would certainly miss out on the Devils' 7 preseason games and their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could come back would be actually the full week of Oct. twenty, which implies the Devils will have already played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a short time frame comes after he utilized his rookie campaign to improve why he is actually thought about among the video game's brightest youthful stars. Hughes completed final period with six objectives and also 47 factors while also being just one of five Evil ones to play in each 82 games.What Hughes performed as a newbie triggered him finishing 3rd in Calder Prize voting behind the resulting champion, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were actually the only novice defensemen who participated in all 82 activities last time. They were also tied for second amongst novices in points along with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually gotten rid of to return, he's anticipated to be a crucial component of the Devils' plans to return to the playoffs. Hughes, that was the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent pair of years cultivating at the University of Michigan, which likewise generated his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is likewise the ruling Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after pair of times and also authorized his entry-level contract with the Devils. It allowed him to join his bro as well as Devils alternative captain, Jack, for the team's playoff operate during the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 video games during the 2022-23 period as well as advanced to the playoffs for the very first time in four times. They opened with a first-round triumph over the competing Nyc Rangers in seven video games prior to shedding in the second around against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period observed the Devils struggle to locate uniformity and also miss out on the playoffs. It led to them parting methods along with head instructor Lindy Ruff as well as employing interim trainer Travis Green before they at that point worked with former Toronto Walnut Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late Might.