.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will need to have in between 6 to eight full weeks to recover coming from a shoulder trauma he endured previously this month, the staff mentioned Thursday.Hughes went through a remaining shoulder injury throughout offseason instruction. After being actually reviewed due to the Devils' health care personnel, it was calculated he would certainly not demand surgery and also it might take greater than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline implies Hughes would certainly miss out on the Devils' seven preseason activities and their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could return would be actually the week of Oct. twenty, which implies the Devils will possess presently played eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a short time frame follows he utilized his rookie campaign to reinforce why he's thought about some of the video game's brightest younger stars. Hughes completed last time with 6 objectives and 47 factors while likewise being just one of 5 Devils to play with all 82 games.What Hughes completed as a novice resulted in him ending up third in Calder Prize ballot behind the possible winner, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were actually the only novice defensemen that played all 82 games last season. They were actually additionally matched for 2nd among newbies in factors along with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is removed to return, he's expected to become a crucial part of the Devils' programs to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, devoted 2 years creating at the College of Michigan, which additionally created his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is actually additionally the reigning Norris Trophy winner for the NHL's absolute best defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after 2 periods as well as authorized his entry-level agreement along with the Devils. It allowed him to join his brother and also Devils alternative captain, Jack, for the group's playoff operate throughout the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils won 52 video games in the course of the 2022-23 season as well as accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in 4 periods. They opened with a first-round victory over the competing New york city Rangers in 7 video games just before losing in the 2nd round against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season observed the Devils struggle to find uniformity and miss the playoffs. It triggered them parting techniques with crown trainer Lindy Ruff and also employing acting coach Travis Veggie prior to they then chose previous Toronto Maple Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in old Might.