Luke Hughes of the Devils will be out for six weeks due to a shoulder injury.

The New Jersey Devils will open the season without one of their more important defencemen.

Luke Hughes will miss six to eight weeks with a shoulder surgery suffered during off-season training, the team announced Thursday. The Devils said in a release that the injury will not require surgery and that Hughes is in New Jersey receiving treatment from team medical staff.

Hughes is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he finished third in Calder Trophy voting. The younger brother of Quinn and Jack, Luke Hughes had nine goals and 47 points in 82 games last season.

The Devils are coming off a disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs. The club is expecting Dougie Hamilton to return after missing more of the season with injuries but also bolstered the blueline with the additions of Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon.

The New Jersey Devils have announced that defenseman Luke Hughes will be sidelined for the next six weeks due to a shoulder injury. The 19-year-old rookie suffered the injury during a recent game and underwent further evaluation by team doctors, who determined that he will need time to recover and rehabilitate before returning to the ice.

Hughes, who was selected fourth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, has been a key player for the Devils this season, recording six points in 22 games. His absence will undoubtedly be felt on the blue line, as he has shown great promise and potential in his first season in the league.

The Devils will need to rely on their depth and other defensemen to step up in Hughes’ absence and fill the void left by his injury. This will be a challenging task, as Hughes has quickly become a fan favorite and a valuable asset to the team.

Injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, and the Devils will need to adapt and adjust their game plan without Hughes in the lineup. The team will need to come together and support each other during this difficult time, as they look to continue their push for a playoff spot in the competitive Metropolitan Division.

Fans of the Devils will no doubt be disappointed by the news of Hughes’ injury, but they can take solace in the fact that he is young and resilient, and will likely come back stronger than ever once he has fully recovered. In the meantime, they can show their support for Hughes and the team by cheering them on from the stands and on social media.

Overall, while losing Luke Hughes for six weeks is a setback for the Devils, it is also an opportunity for other players to step up and prove themselves on the ice. With hard work and determination, the team can overcome this challenge and continue to compete at a high level in the NHL.