.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly require in between six to 8 weeks to bounce back coming from a shoulder personal injury he experienced previously this month, the group claimed Thursday.Hughes experienced a nigh side shoulder injury throughout offseason instruction. After being actually examined by the Devils' health care personnel, it was calculated he would certainly certainly not call for surgical procedure which it can take greater than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline means Hughes would certainly miss the Devils' seven preseason activities and also their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could come back would be actually the full week of Oct. 20, which means the Devils would have already played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief time period comes after he utilized his novice campaign to enhance why he is actually considered one of the activity's brightest youthful celebrities. Hughes ended up last time with 6 targets as well as 47 factors while likewise being among five Adversaries to play in every 82 games.What Hughes performed as a novice led to him completing 3rd in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the possible winner, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were the only newbie defensemen who participated in all 82 video games final season. They were actually also matched for second amongst rookies in aspects with Bedard leading the organization's first-year players along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to return, he is actually assumed to become an important portion of the Devils' plannings to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the 4th choice of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested two years creating at the Educational institution of Michigan, which additionally generated his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain that is likewise the ruling Norris Prize champion for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after pair of times and also signed his entry-level contract with the Devils. It allowed him to join his sibling as well as Evil ones alternate leader, Port, for the team's playoff operate in the course of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 games during the 2022-23 period as well as accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in four times. They opened with a first-round victory over the competing New york city Rangers in seven games prior to losing in the second sphere versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season saw the Devils problem to discover consistency as well as miss the playoffs. It led to them parting methods with crown coach Lindy Ruff and hiring interim train Travis Green before they after that tapped the services of former Toronto Walnut Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late Might.