.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL press reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly need between 6 to 8 weeks to recover from a shoulder personal injury he endured previously this month, the crew stated Thursday.Hughes suffered a left side shoulder trauma during offseason instruction. After being actually reviewed due to the Devils' health care team, it was actually established he would certainly not call for surgical treatment and also it might take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timetable implies Hughes would certainly skip the Devils' 7 preseason video games and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might return will be actually the week of Oct. 20, which means the Devils will have presently played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief period follows he used his novice initiative to reinforce why he's thought about one of the game's brightest young celebrities. Hughes finished last time along with 6 goals and also 47 points while additionally being just one of five Evil ones to play in all 82 games.What Hughes achieved as a rookie led to him completing 3rd in Calder Trophy voting behind the eventual 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 games last season. They were likewise matched for 2nd amongst newbies in aspects with Bedard leading the organization's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is gotten rid of to return, he's assumed to become a vital portion of the Devils' strategies to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, devoted pair of years cultivating at the Educational institution of Michigan, which additionally created his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is actually also the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after two seasons and signed his entry-level contract with the Devils. It permitted him to join his bro and Evil ones alternative leader, Port, for the crew's playoff run during the course of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 video games in the course of the 2022-23 period as well as accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They opened up with a first-round success over the rival The big apple Rangers in 7 video games before shedding in the 2nd round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season viewed the Devils problem to discover consistency and also miss out on the playoffs. It caused them parting methods along with crown instructor Lindy Ruff as well as tapping the services of interim trainer Travis Eco-friendly just before they at that point worked with previous Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe in late Might.