.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL press reporter for ESPN.New Jacket Devils defenseman Luke Hughes are going to need between 6 to 8 weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder trauma he experienced previously this month, the team pointed out Thursday.Hughes experienced a nigh side shoulder trauma during the course of offseason instruction. After being assessed due to the Devils' medical team, it was established he will certainly not demand surgery which it might take greater than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline indicates Hughes would miss out on the Devils' seven preseason video games and also their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 as well as Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he can come back would certainly be the week of Oct. 20, which implies the Devils would certainly possess already played eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a brief time frame comes after he utilized his newbie project to bolster why he is actually considered among the activity's brightest young stars. Hughes finished final season with 6 goals and also 47 aspects while additionally being among five Devils to play with all 82 games.What Hughes performed as a novice caused him completing 3rd in Calder Prize ballot behind the eventual champion, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen that played all 82 games last time. They were actually also tied 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 come back, he's assumed to be a crucial component of the Devils' plans to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the fourth selection of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested two years establishing at the College of Michigan, which also produced his bro Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is actually also the reigning Norris Trophy winner for the NHL's ideal defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after two times and signed his entry-level agreement along with the Devils. It allowed him to join his brother as well as Evil ones alternating leader, Port, for the crew's playoff operate in the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils won 52 video games throughout the 2022-23 period and also accelerated to the playoffs for the very first time in 4 times. They opened up with a first-round success over the competing The big apple Rangers in 7 video games before losing in the 2nd around against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season saw the Devils problem to find congruity and miss the playoffs. It brought about all of them parting means with head coach Lindy Ruff as well as working with acting instructor Travis Green just before they after that hired former Toronto Walnut Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in late Might.