Devils defenseman Luke Hughes is predicted to overlook coaching camp, preseason and the beginning of the common season after injuring his left shoulder whereas coaching.
Based on an announcement from the workforce, he’ll miss between six and eight weeks. That places his season debut for New Jersey someday throughout late October or early November.
It’s a troublesome break for each the Devils and the 21-year-old, who’s a pending restricted free agent getting into the ultimate season of his entry-level contract. He’s eligible to signal an extension at any time, and it’ll doubtless be a pricey one after he led New Jersey defenders in scoring final season with 47 factors (9 G, 38 A) in 82 video games and completed third in Calder Trophy voting, shedding out on Rookie of the 12 months honors to Connor Bedard and ending properly wanting Wild counterpart Brock Faber for second place.
The fourth total decide within the 2021 draft, Hughes is properly on his technique to becoming a member of his brother Jack as a core piece within the Backyard State for years to return. The New Hampshire native has some work to do defensively earlier than he’s a correct top-pairing choice, ending third-worst on the workforce with a -25 ranking, however his 55% shot try share and 52.3 anticipated objectives share at even energy have been first rate in sheltered offensive utilization. Earlier than turning professional with the Devils to shut the 2022-23 marketing campaign, Hughes’ 48 factors in 39 video games from the College of Michigan blue line helped them to a second straight Large 10 championship.
The left-shot defender is slated for second-pairing duties when wholesome, permitting a extra stay-at-home companion to enhance a wholesome Dougie Hamilton on the workforce’s prime pairing. That spot might be up for grabs in coaching camp now, although, not less than for the primary few weeks of the marketing campaign. New head coach Sheldon Keefe has loads of choices, however the most certainly is a shutdown duo of free agent additions, Brenden Dillon and Brett Pesce, backing up Hamilton and his companion.
If Hughes doesn’t miss sufficient time to be eligible for long-term injured reserve, that might create issues for a Devils workforce that can doubtless be capped out after coming to an settlement with RFA ahead Dawson Mercer. Placing Hughes on normal IR in comparison with LTIR may end in New Jersey not carrying an additional defenseman till he returns to well being. His damage ought to present loads of alternative for Johnathan Kovacevic, who was projected to begin the 12 months because the Devils’ No. 7 defender after being acquired from the Canadiens in June.
