NEWARK, N.J.—The New Jersey Devils suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of a playoff spot as leading scorer Jack Hughes will miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery. Hughes underwent a successful procedure on his right shoulder in Vail, Colorado, following comprehensive consultations with his family, agent, and medical staff. The team is hopeful that he will be ready to return for training camp.
The injury occurred during a match against the Vegas Golden Knights when Hughes collided with the boards while tangled with Golden Knights center Jack Eichel. The incident left Hughes clutching his right arm and led to Devils’ coach Sheldon Keefe being ejected for vocally criticizing officials for not penalizing the play. The NHL later fined Keefe $25,000 for his remarks directed at the officials, which it deemed unprofessional.
“I got kicked off the bench for telling the referee that the play was significantly worse than a previous call,” Keefe remarked in the aftermath of the game. Hughes’ brother Luke showed visible emotion in the locker room post-game, prompting the media to be temporarily relocated to allow him privacy.
Drafted as the first overall pick in 2019, Jack Hughes has quickly become instrumental to the Devils’ success and is recognized as a rising star. Prior to his injury, Hughes was tied for ninth in the NHL scoring leaderboard, boasting an impressive 70 points comprised of 27 goals and 43 assists. Hughes’ contributions have been invaluable, especially during international competition at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
In response to Hughes’ injury, the Devils placed him on long-term injured reserve, which provides some relief against the salary cap as the NHL trade deadline approaches. The team remains in a strong playoff position, holding third place in the Metropolitan Division. However, injuries have plagued the roster, compounding their challenges.
While the Devils recently welcomed starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom back from injury, they also lost their top defenseman, Dougie Hamilton, during a game against Dallas. Coach Keefe was unable to provide an immediate update on Hamilton’s condition following the team’s narrow defeat.
