.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will definitely require in between 6 to eight full weeks to bounce back from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the crew claimed Thursday.Hughes went through a nigh side shoulder trauma in the course of offseason instruction. After being actually reviewed by the Devils' health care staff, it was actually identified he will not need surgery and also it can take greater than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline means Hughes would miss the Devils' seven preseason activities and also their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 as well as Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might come back would certainly be actually the full week of Oct. twenty, which implies the Devils would have already participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a short duration follows he used his novice initiative to improve why he's taken into consideration some of the video game's brightest young celebrities. Hughes finished last period with six targets and 47 aspects while likewise being just one of five Adversaries to play in each 82 games.What Hughes performed as a newbie resulted in him completing 3rd in Calder Trophy ballot behind the ultimate champion, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were the only newbie defensemen that played all 82 video games final time. They were actually also matched for second one of novices in points along with Bedard leading the organization's first-year gamers with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to come back, he is actually anticipated to become a crucial portion of the Devils' programs to return to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, spent 2 years developing at the Educational institution of Michigan, which additionally made his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is additionally the ruling Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's absolute best defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after 2 periods and also signed his entry-level contract along with the Devils. It allowed him to join his bro and also Devils alternate leader, Port, for the group's playoff run during the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils succeeded 52 games in the course of the 2022-23 period as well as progressed to the playoffs for the first time in four times. They opened with a first-round success over the rivalrous New york city Rangers in 7 video games before losing in the 2nd round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season saw the Devils problem to locate congruity as well as miss out on the playoffs. It resulted in them parting means along with head instructor Lindy Ruff and employing acting coach Travis Veggie just before they after that chose former Toronto Maple Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in old Might.