Jack Hughes out for season after shoulder surgery
New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes will miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, the team announced Wednesday.
He's expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of training camp.
Hughes suffered the injury after awkwardly crashing into the boards during the Devils' 2-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. His skates got tangled up with Jack Eichel late in the third period, and he appeared to favor his right arm as he left the ice.
New Jersey placed Hughes and his $8-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve. The trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET, and the Devils will continue to operate as buyers, a source told The Athletic's Peter Baugh.
Hughes leads New Jersey with 27 goals and is tied with Jesper Bratt with 70 points in 62 games. He was on pace for his second career 90-point campaign before being sidelined.
The 23-year-old center also represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off, chipping in with one assist in four appearances.
Hughes was limited to 62 games last season due to injury and underwent shoulder surgery in April. The Devils finished that campaign 10 points outside of the playoff picture.
New Jersey sits in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 33-24-6 record and 19 games remaining in the regular season. The Columbus Blue Jackets are four points behind the Devils in the division with two games in hand.
The Devils have had a rough go of it in 2025, and they haven't won two straight games since late January:
| Date range | Record | P% | GF/GP | GA/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Jan. 1 | 24-13-3 | .638 | 3.30 | 2.53 |
| Since Jan. 1 | 9-11-3 | .457 | 2.43 | 2.43 |
New Jersey drafted Hughes first overall in 2019. A key driver of his team's offense, he's gone on to record 141 goals and 351 points in 368 games.
The Devils have made the postseason once during Hughes' NHL tenure. He starred with six goals and 11 points in 12 games en route to his team's second-round exit from the 2023 playoffs.
New Jersey is also awaiting an update on defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who missed the last two periods of Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars with an undisclosed injury.