The New Jersey Devils walked away with a win against the Nashville Predators, but the celebration came with a caveat - they might be without Jack Hughes for a bit. The star forward exited early, logging just three shifts and 2:27 of ice time before heading to the locker room with a lower-body injury.
After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe offered a cautious update, noting that Hughes had "tweaked something" and that, at least initially, it didn’t appear to be a long-term concern. Still, as of now, the team is in wait-and-see mode. Hughes is undergoing further evaluation, including imaging, to determine the extent of the injury.
“The only update is that he’s still getting evaluated,” Keefe said. “In the next little bit, he’s going to get some imaging and get a better idea of what’s happening. Until we have those results, we won’t know his status in terms of travel and the situation going forward.”
That’s where things stand - no definitive diagnosis yet, but the Devils are hoping for the best. With the Olympics on the horizon, any injury to a marquee player like Hughes is going to raise eyebrows. Even if it’s not serious, the timing isn’t ideal.
And it’s not just Hughes the Devils are monitoring. Center Cody Glass is also working his way back from a lower-body injury of his own.
He took a shot off the leg in a recent game against the Winnipeg Jets and missed the matchup against Nashville. The good news?
He’s trending in the right direction.
“Cody had a better day today when he skated, which is positive,” Keefe said. “He’s going to travel with us. If he continues to progress then he could be available for tomorrow but we won’t know until that time comes.”
So, heading into their next game against the Ottawa Senators, the Devils could be without two key pieces down the middle - or they might get one back. Either way, it’s a test of depth and resilience for a team that’s had its share of injury hurdles this season.
The Devils got the win, but now the focus shifts to the health of two important players. And with the schedule tightening and international competition looming, these next few days could be pivotal.