.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL press reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will definitely need in between six to 8 weeks to recoup from a shoulder injury he endured previously this month, the staff claimed Thursday.Hughes suffered a left shoulder personal injury in the course of offseason training. After being actually assessed by the Devils' medical staff, it was identified he would certainly certainly not call for surgical procedure and that it might take much more than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline indicates Hughes will skip the Devils' seven preseason activities as well as their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could come back will be the week of Oct. 20, which indicates the Devils will possess actually played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a quick time period happens after he utilized his rookie project to reinforce why he is actually looked at one of the video game's brightest young superstars. Hughes ended up final period along with six targets as well as 47 factors while also being one of 5 Adversaries to play in every 82 games.What Hughes completed as a novice triggered him completing third in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the possible victor, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were the only newbie defensemen that participated in all 82 video games final period. They were likewise tied for 2nd among novices in points with Bedard leading the league's first-year players with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to come back, he is actually anticipated to become an essential aspect of the Devils' strategies to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the 4th selection of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent 2 years establishing at the Educational institution of Michigan, which additionally generated his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader who is actually additionally the ruling Norris Trophy champion for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after two seasons and signed his entry-level contract with the Devils. It allowed him to join his brother as well as Adversaries alternating captain, Jack, for the crew's playoff run in the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils won 52 games during the 2022-23 period and advanced to the playoffs for the very first time in four seasons. They opened with a first-round success over the rivalrous The big apple Rangers in seven video games just before dropping in the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season viewed the Devils struggle to locate congruity and overlook the playoffs. It triggered them parting ways with crown instructor Lindy Ruff as well as hiring interim trainer Travis Eco-friendly just before they after that tapped the services of past Toronto Walnut Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late May.