The New Jersey Devils picked up a gritty 2-1 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Monday night, but the victory came with a concerning development: defenseman Luke Hughes exited the game midway through the second period with an injury and did not return.
Hughes, just 22 years old and already a key piece of the Devils' blue line, will be sidelined for at least the remainder of the team’s Western Canada road trip. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed after the game that Hughes will need further evaluation before a timeline for his return can be established.
“He’s going to miss time, for sure,” Keefe said during a postgame interview with MSG Networks. “We won’t see him for the rest of this road trip. We’ll get him evaluated and determine the length of time from there.”
It’s a tough blow for a Devils team that’s leaned heavily on Hughes this season. His ability to move the puck, jump into the rush, and log big minutes has made him an integral part of New Jersey’s defensive core. Losing him-especially on a road swing through Western Canada-means the team will need to tighten up and rely on its depth to weather the storm.
The Devils currently have seven defensemen on the roster, Hughes included. One of those is Johnathan Kovacevic, who was a healthy scratch against Calgary. Keefe explained that Kovacevic wasn’t dealing with a specific injury, but rather some general wear and tear that the team is monitoring closely.
“We learned last week that Kovy’s-not his knee but his body overall-isn’t quite ready for back-to-backs,” Keefe said. “Just giving him today off and an opportunity for the group to go today and see if they can come together.”
With Hughes out, it’s likely Kovacevic will draw back into the lineup as the Devils continue their trip with a tough matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Edmonton’s high-powered offense will test a New Jersey defense that’s suddenly missing one of its most dynamic contributors.
The Devils have shown resilience all season, and this will be another chance for the rest of the blue line to step up. Whether it’s more minutes for veterans or a chance for younger players to prove they belong, the next few games will be telling-not just for how the Devils cope without Hughes, but for how deep this defensive group really is.