Star center Jack Hughes will be out of the New Jersey Devils lineup until January after a freak accident at a team dinner left him needing finger surgery.
The Devils announced Saturday that Hughes underwent successful surgery, but the recovery timeline is longer than fans hoped – he’ll need at least eight weeks before returning to action. Doctors will check his progress after six weeks.
It’s another tough break for the 24-year-old superstar, who just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to staying healthy.
Hughes has spent way too much time in street clothes during his young NHL career. He’s missed at least 20 games in three of his first six seasons. The only years he stayed relatively healthy were during the shortened COVID seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The timing couldn’t be worse for New Jersey. Hughes has been absolutely electric this season, helping power the Devils to the top spot in both the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference with their impressive 12-4-1 start.
While the Devils have some solid players who can help fill the gap, there’s no replacing Hughes’ game-changing ability. The team looks completely different without their dynamic playmaker on the ice.
The good news? That strong start gives New Jersey some breathing room in the standings. If Hughes heals on schedule and avoids any setbacks, the Devils should be able to weather this storm and stay in the playoff hunt until their star returns.
