.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 between six to 8 full weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder personal injury he suffered earlier this month, the crew mentioned Thursday.Hughes suffered a nigh side shoulder personal injury throughout offseason training. After being examined by the Devils' clinical team, it was actually identified he would certainly not call for surgical operation and also it could possibly take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timetable means Hughes will skip the Devils' 7 preseason activities as well as their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he can return would certainly be actually the week of Oct. 20, which implies the Devils will have currently played eight regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a short period comes after he utilized his newbie initiative to bolster why he is actually thought about some of the activity's brightest youthful superstars. Hughes completed final season along with six objectives and also 47 aspects while likewise being one of 5 Adversaries to play in each 82 games.What Hughes accomplished as a rookie resulted in him completing 3rd in Calder Trophy ballot responsible for the eventual victor, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were actually the only novice defensemen that played all 82 activities last time. They were actually additionally tied for second among newbies in aspects along with Bedard leading the game's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually cleared to return, he's anticipated to be an important portion of the Devils' strategies to go back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent 2 years developing at the College of Michigan, which additionally made his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is additionally the ruling Norris Trophy victor for the NHL's finest defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after 2 times and also signed his entry-level arrangement with the Devils. It allowed him to join his bro as well as Adversaries alternative leader, Jack, for the group's playoff run during the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils won 52 video games during the 2022-23 period and also accelerated to the playoffs for the first time in four periods. They opened along with a first-round victory over the competing The big apple Rangers in 7 activities just before shedding in the 2nd around versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last period observed the Devils struggle to find congruity and overlook the playoffs. It caused them parting means with crown trainer Lindy Ruff and also hiring acting instructor Travis Eco-friendly before they then tapped the services of former Toronto Walnut Leafs train Sheldon Keefe in late Might.