.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will certainly need to have between six to eight weeks to recuperate from a shoulder trauma he experienced previously this month, the crew mentioned Thursday.Hughes went through a left shoulder trauma throughout offseason instruction. After being actually assessed by the Devils' clinical team, it was actually calculated he would certainly not need surgical treatment and also it can take more than six full weeks for him to recover.That timetable means Hughes would certainly miss out on the Devils' seven preseason video games and also their season-opening video games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 versus the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he might come back would be the full week of Oct. twenty, which means the Devils would certainly possess presently participated in 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a brief time frame happens after he utilized his novice campaign to strengthen why he is actually considered some of the activity's brightest younger celebrities. Hughes completed last time with six objectives and also 47 aspects while likewise being among 5 Evil ones to play in all 82 games.What Hughes performed as a rookie resulted in him completing third in Calder Prize ballot behind the resulting champion, Chicago Blackhawks facility Connor Bedard, and also Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes and also Faber were the only newbie defensemen that participated in all 82 activities last season. They were additionally tied for second among novices in aspects along with Bedard leading the organization's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually removed to come back, he's assumed to become an important part of the Devils' plans to go back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was the 4th selection of the 2021 NHL Draft, devoted two years creating at the College of Michigan, which also produced his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks captain that is actually likewise the ruling Norris Trophy champion for the NHL's finest defenseman.Hughes left Michigan after 2 seasons and authorized his entry-level arrangement along with the Devils. It enabled him to join his bro as well as Devils alternating leader, Port, for the staff's playoff run throughout the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 games in the course of the 2022-23 time as well as evolved to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They opened up along with a first-round victory over the rivalrous The big apple Rangers in seven video games before shedding in the 2nd round against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last season found the Devils struggle to discover congruity and also miss out on the playoffs. It caused them parting ways along with crown instructor Lindy Ruff as well as tapping the services of acting train Travis Environment-friendly just before they after that hired previous Toronto Walnut Leafs trainer Sheldon Keefe in old May.