Devils center Jack Hughes has emerged as a top-10 player in the NHL, but the superstar has been forced to hit pause on his sensational start to the 2023-24 season.
Hughes is expected to miss extended time — multiple weeks — as a result of an upper-body injury suffered Nov. 3.
The No. 1 pick from the 2019 draft has lived up to expectations and then some. Hughes helped lead the Devils to a surprising second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division last season, greatly accelerating New Jersey's rebuild.
After losing in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Devils came into this season considered to be serious Stanley Cup contenders. New Jersey has gotten out to a strong start this year thanks to Hughes' play, but the team will have to navigate the foreseeable future without the smooth-skating center.
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Here are the latest injury updates and news on Hughes.
How long is Jack Hughes out?
The Devils announced Sunday that Hughes is considered "week to week" with an upper-body injury.
Jack Hughes will not play tonight against Chicago. He’ll be week to week with upper-body injury. He’s back in New Jersey with the athletic care staff.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 5, 2023
It is a more positive update than some around the Devils organization expected. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, New Jersey initially was worried he’d be sidelined for months with the injury, however he "doesn’t believe they feel that’s the case anymore."
Jack Hughes injury update
Hughes was injured during a Nov. 3 contest against the Blues.
During the first period, the New Jersey center split the St. Louis defense to get in alone on Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. His shot was stopped, and as the rebound kicked out, Binnington went to use his stick to poke the puck into the corner.
As the goaltender stuck his stick out, he tripped Hughes, and who went tumbling into the boards, slamming his shoulder.
Jack Hughes has gone to the @NJDevils dressing room after crashing into the boards earlier in the period. pic.twitter.com/2fejhyUmx2
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 4, 2023
Jack Hughes has gone down the Devils tunnel after this play earlier in the first pic.twitter.com/EIj973Jkgy
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 4, 2023
Hughes left the game and it was announced he would not return with an upper-body injury.
The Star-Ledger's Ryan Novozinsky reported that it is a right shoulder injury for Hughes. He was also told my sources that the Devils do not believe it is the same ailment as the upper-body injury he suffered during the 2023 postseason.
Can confirm it’s a right shoulder injury for #NJDevils star Jack Hughes, a person with knowledge of the injury said.
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) November 6, 2023
They do not believe he re-aggravated his upper-body injury from the playoffs. https://t.co/bAWQriq3kw
Jack Hughes stats
Hughes took a major step to NHL superstardom last season, nearly reaching triple digits in points by posting 99 in 78 games.
This year, the 22-year-old was on an even more rapid points pace before he had to hit pause on his season. Through 10 games, including the Blues contest that he did not finish, Hughes has five goals and 15 assists, good for 20 points.
Jack Hughes' start to the season mix pic.twitter.com/uJzCA7DnDE
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) October 30, 2023
At the time of his injury, he was one of only two players in the league to hit 20 points, sharing the top of the NHL points leaderboard with Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Hughes' 15 assists also were the most among all skaters.