.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly require in between six to eight full weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the crew mentioned Thursday.Hughes went through a left shoulder injury throughout offseason training. After being actually evaluated due to the Devils' clinical team, it was established he would certainly certainly not demand surgical operation and also it can take greater than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timetable implies Hughes would skip the Devils' seven preseason activities and their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might return would be the full week of Oct. 20, which implies the Devils will possess currently played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief time frame follows he utilized his novice campaign to improve why he's looked at among the game's brightest youthful celebrities. Hughes completed final period along with 6 objectives and 47 factors while also being just one of 5 Adversaries to play in all 82 games.What Hughes accomplished as a rookie resulted in him ending up third in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the eventual winner, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen who played all 82 video games final period. They were actually likewise tied for 2nd amongst rookies in aspects with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually gotten rid of to return, he is actually expected to become an important part of the Devils' plannings to go back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, invested 2 years cultivating at the University of Michigan, which likewise produced his bro Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader who is likewise the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after two times and signed his entry-level arrangement along with the Devils. It enabled him to join his bro and Adversaries alternate captain, Jack, for the crew's playoff run during the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils won 52 video games during the 2022-23 season and also advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 4 times. They opened up with a first-round success over the competing New York Rangers in seven activities before dropping in the second sphere versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time observed the Devils battle to discover congruity and also skip the playoffs. It led to them parting ways along with head trainer Lindy Ruff as well as tapping the services of interim train Travis Green prior to they at that point employed past Toronto Walnut Leafs train Sheldon Keefe in late May.