.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is actually an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes are going to require between 6 to eight weeks to recover coming from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the crew claimed Thursday.Hughes suffered a remaining shoulder injury during the course of offseason training. After being actually assessed by the Devils' clinical team, it was identified he would certainly not need surgery and also it could take much more than 6 weeks for him to recover.That timetable suggests Hughes would miss out on the Devils' 7 preseason games as well as their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly return will be the week of Oct. twenty, which indicates the Devils will have already played 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief period comes after he utilized his novice campaign to strengthen why he's taken into consideration some of the activity's brightest youthful celebrities. Hughes finished last season with 6 goals and also 47 factors while also being among 5 Evil ones to play in each 82 games.What Hughes completed as a rookie brought about him finishing 3rd in Calder Prize ballot responsible for the eventual champion, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were the only newbie defensemen that participated in all 82 games final period. They were actually also tied for second amongst rookies in factors along with Bedard leading the organization's first-year gamers with 61 points.Once Hughes is gotten rid of to come back, he's expected to be a crucial aspect of the Devils' plans to return to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent 2 years cultivating at the University of Michigan, which also produced his bro Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is likewise the reigning Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after two seasons and also signed his entry-level deal with the Devils. It permitted him to join his sibling as well as Adversaries alternating captain, Jack, for the crew's playoff operate in the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils succeeded 52 activities during the course of the 2022-23 period and advanced to the playoffs for the very first time in four periods. They opened with a first-round victory over the rivalrous New york city Rangers in 7 games just before losing in the 2nd round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period viewed the Devils battle to locate uniformity as well as skip the playoffs. It resulted in them parting methods along with crown train Lindy Ruff as well as choosing acting coach Travis Environment-friendly just before they at that point tapped the services of past Toronto Maple Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late May.