.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 eight weeks to recoup coming from a shoulder trauma he went through earlier this month, the group said Thursday.Hughes experienced a nigh side shoulder trauma during the course of offseason instruction. After being reviewed due to the Devils' medical staff, it was determined he would not require surgical operation which it might take more than six weeks for him to recover.That timeline suggests Hughes will miss the Devils' 7 preseason video games and their season-opening activities on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he could come back would be the full week of Oct. 20, which means the Devils would have presently participated in 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for also a quick time period follows he used his novice initiative to strengthen why he is actually considered among the activity's brightest younger celebrities. Hughes completed last season with 6 goals and 47 points while additionally being one of 5 Adversaries to play in every 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie triggered him ending up third in Calder Trophy ballot responsible for the resulting victor, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, as well as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were actually the only rookie defensemen who participated in all 82 activities last season. They were likewise matched for 2nd amongst newbies in factors with Bedard leading the league's first-year gamers with 61 points.Once Hughes is removed to return, he is actually assumed to become a crucial portion of the Devils' plans to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, invested pair of years cultivating at the College of Michigan, which additionally produced his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain who is also the reigning Norris Prize winner for the NHL's greatest defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after 2 times as well as signed his entry-level deal with the Devils. It allowed him to join his brother as well as Adversaries alternating leader, Port, for the staff's playoff run during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Devils gained 52 activities during the 2022-23 period and evolved to the playoffs for the very first time in 4 seasons. They opened up with a first-round victory over the competing The big apple Rangers in seven games just before shedding in the second sphere versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time saw the Devils problem to discover consistency and also miss the playoffs. It brought about all of them parting means along with crown train Lindy Ruff and hiring interim coach Travis Green prior to they then hired former Toronto Maple Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late Might.