.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Shirt Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will need to have between six to 8 full weeks to recover from a shoulder injury he endured earlier this month, the team pointed out Thursday.Hughes suffered a nigh side shoulder trauma during the course of offseason instruction. After being reviewed by the Devils' health care team, it was actually identified he would certainly not call for surgery which it could take much more than six full weeks for him to recover.That timeline implies Hughes will miss the Devils' seven preseason activities and also their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could possibly come back will be the week of Oct. twenty, which implies the Devils would certainly possess presently participated in eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a short duration follows he used his newbie project to strengthen why he is actually taken into consideration some of the game's brightest young stars. Hughes completed last season with six objectives as well as 47 aspects while also being just one of 5 Evil ones to play in each 82 games.What Hughes achieved as a novice led to him ending up third in Calder Trophy ballot behind the ultimate champion, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen that participated in all 82 activities last time. They were actually also matched for second among novices in points with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to come back, he is actually anticipated to become an important part of the Devils' programs to return to the playoffs. Hughes, that was actually the 4th pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, devoted 2 years developing at the Educational institution of Michigan, which also produced his brother Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader who is additionally the ruling Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's absolute best defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after pair of periods and authorized his entry-level arrangement along with the Devils. It enabled him to join his sibling and also Devils alternate captain, Jack, for the team's playoff operate in the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils won 52 video games throughout the 2022-23 time and progressed to the playoffs for the very first time in four seasons. They opened along with a first-round success over the competing The big apple Rangers in seven video games prior to shedding in the second round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time found the Devils problem to discover congruity and also skip the playoffs. It caused them parting ways along with crown instructor Lindy Ruff and also hiring interim trainer Travis Environment-friendly prior to they then employed previous Toronto Maple Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in old Might.