.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will definitely need between 6 to eight full weeks to bounce back coming from a shoulder injury he went through earlier this month, the staff claimed Thursday.Hughes went through a left side shoulder trauma throughout offseason instruction. After being reviewed by the Devils' clinical team, it was actually identified he will certainly not demand surgical operation and that it might take much more than 6 full weeks for him to recover.That timeline implies Hughes will miss the Devils' 7 preseason activities and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 as well as Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly come back would be the full week of Oct. 20, which suggests the Devils would certainly have actually participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a brief time period happens after he utilized his novice initiative to strengthen why he's looked at one of the video game's brightest younger stars. Hughes ended up last time along with six objectives and also 47 factors while also being just one of five Adversaries to play in every 82 games.What Hughes achieved as a rookie resulted in him finishing third in Calder Prize voting responsible for the possible victor, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were the only newbie defensemen that participated in all 82 games last time. They were also tied for second amongst rookies in points along with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is gotten rid of to return, he's expected to become an important portion of the Devils' plans to go back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the fourth selection of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested pair of years cultivating at the College of Michigan, which also created his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is actually likewise the ruling Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after two periods and also signed his entry-level deal with the Devils. It allowed him to join his sibling and also Evil ones alternate captain, Jack, for the team's playoff operate throughout the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 video games during the course of the 2022-23 time as well as accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in 4 periods. They opened up along with a first-round victory over the competing The big apple Rangers in 7 games prior to shedding in the second sphere against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time saw the Devils battle to locate consistency and also overlook the playoffs. It led to all of them parting ways along with crown coach Lindy Ruff as well as hiring interim instructor Travis Eco-friendly just before they then hired past Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe in late May.