.Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterSep 12, 2024, 02:13 PM ETCloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL media reporter for ESPN.New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will definitely need in between six to eight full weeks to bounce back from a shoulder accident he endured previously this month, the team claimed Thursday.Hughes went through a remaining shoulder accident during offseason instruction. After being actually evaluated by the Devils' clinical personnel, it was calculated he would certainly not call for surgical operation and also it could possibly take greater than six full weeks for him to recover.That timetable suggests Hughes will miss the Devils' 7 preseason activities as well as their season-opening games on Oct. 4 and also Oct. 5 against the Buffalo Grass Sabres in Prague, Czechia. The earliest he can come back would be the full week of Oct. 20, which implies the Devils would certainly have currently participated in 8 regular-season games.Losing Hughes for even a quick time period comes after he used his rookie project to enhance why he is actually thought about among the game's brightest young celebrities. Hughes ended up last time with six goals and 47 points while additionally being just one of five Evil ones to play in every 82 games.What Hughes completed as a rookie led to him ending up 3rd in Calder Trophy ballot behind the resulting victor, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber.Hughes as well as Faber were the only rookie defensemen that participated in all 82 activities final time. They were actually additionally matched for second one of rookies in points with Bedard leading the game's first-year gamers along with 61 points.Once Hughes is actually gotten rid of to return, he's expected to become an important component of the Devils' programs to come back to the playoffs. Hughes, who was actually the fourth pick of the 2021 NHL Draught, spent pair of years creating at the University of Michigan, which additionally made his sibling Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks leader that is likewise the reigning Norris Prize champion for the NHL's absolute best defenseman.Hughes left behind Michigan after two times and also authorized his entry-level arrangement with the Devils. It enabled him to join his bro and also Devils alternating leader, Port, for the group's playoff operate during the course of the 2023 Stanley Mug playoffs.The Devils gained 52 video games during the 2022-23 season as well as evolved to the playoffs for the very first time in 4 times. They opened along with a first-round success over the rivalrous New york city Rangers in seven video games before dropping in the 2nd sphere against the Carolina Hurricanes.Last time found the Devils problem to discover consistency and miss the playoffs. It resulted in all of them parting techniques with head coach Lindy Ruff and choosing interim train Travis Environment-friendly just before they at that point chose past Toronto Walnut Leafs instructor Sheldon Keefe in late Might.