.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 certainly need to have between 6 to eight weeks to recover from a shoulder injury he suffered earlier this month, the group pointed out Thursday.Hughes suffered a left side shoulder personal injury during the course of offseason training. After being actually examined by the Devils' medical staff, it was determined he would certainly not need surgical treatment and that it could take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timetable implies Hughes will miss out on the Devils' 7 preseason activities as well as their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might return would be the week of Oct. twenty, which indicates the Devils would have actually participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a short time frame comes after he used his novice initiative to improve why he is actually looked at one of the activity's brightest younger superstars. Hughes completed last period along with 6 objectives as well as 47 factors while likewise being among five Evil ones to play in all 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie brought about him ending up 3rd in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the possible champion, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were actually the only novice defensemen who played all 82 activities final time. They were actually also matched for second among novices in points along with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to return, he is actually expected to become a vital component of the Devils' plannings to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, devoted 2 years creating at the University of Michigan, which additionally created his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is additionally the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's finest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after 2 periods as well as signed his entry-level contract with the Devils. It enabled him to join his brother and also Devils alternate leader, Port, for the crew's playoff run during the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils succeeded 52 video games in the course of the 2022-23 time and also progressed to the playoffs for the first time in 4 seasons. They opened along with a first-round victory over the rivalrous New York Rangers in seven video games prior to losing in the 2nd around versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period saw the Devils battle to find congruity as well as overlook the playoffs. It triggered all of them parting techniques along with head train Lindy Ruff and employing interim train Travis Eco-friendly just before they then employed past Toronto Maple Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in late Might.