.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 need to have between 6 to eight full weeks to recuperate coming from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the team pointed out Thursday.Hughes suffered a left side shoulder personal injury during the course of offseason training. After being actually evaluated due to the Devils' medical personnel, it was actually identified he would not require surgical procedure and that it could possibly take more than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timeline suggests Hughes would certainly miss the Devils' seven preseason games and their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might return would be actually the week of Oct. 20, which indicates the Devils will possess presently participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief time period happens after he utilized his newbie project to enhance why he is actually looked at one of the video game's brightest youthful stars. Hughes completed final period along with six targets and 47 factors while likewise being among 5 Devils to play in every 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie triggered him ending up third in Calder Trophy voting behind the resulting victor, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and Faber were the only rookie defensemen who played all 82 activities last time. They were actually likewise matched for second one of rookies in factors along with Bedard leading the organization's first-year players along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually removed to come back, he is actually expected to become a vital aspect of the Devils' plans to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, that was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, spent two years cultivating at the University of Michigan, which also created his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain that is also the ruling Norris Prize victor for the NHL's finest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after 2 periods and also authorized his entry-level agreement with the Devils. It enabled him to join his bro and Devils alternative leader, Port, for the crew's playoff operate during the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 activities throughout the 2022-23 period and evolved to the playoffs for the first time in four times. They opened up with a first-round triumph over the competing Nyc Rangers in 7 video games before losing in the 2nd round against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period found the Devils struggle to discover uniformity as well as miss out on the playoffs. It led to them parting methods with crown instructor Lindy Ruff and also choosing acting instructor Travis Green before they after that employed former Toronto Walnut Leafs train Sheldon Keefe in old May.