The New Jersey Devils are going to have to navigate the rest of their road trip without one of their key young defensemen. Luke Hughes exited Monday night’s 2-1 overtime win against the Calgary Flames with an apparent injury and won’t be available for the remaining three games out west, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed after the game.
Hughes left midway through the second period after a play that raised some concern - a Flames player appeared to grab his jersey from behind, and Hughes immediately showed signs of discomfort. He didn’t return to the ice, and while the team is still waiting on a full evaluation, the early indication is that he’ll be sidelined for at least the short term.
This latest setback is especially frustrating considering Hughes’ history. The 22-year-old already missed the start of the 2024-25 season while rehabbing a shoulder injury he sustained during offseason training. While it’s too early to say whether this is a recurrence of that same issue, the optics weren’t great.
Before going down, Hughes had been putting together a solid sophomore campaign. Through 49 games, he’s tallied 26 points and continued to show the kind of two-way potential that made the Devils commit to him long term. That commitment came in the form of a seven-year, $63 million contract signed before the season - a clear signal that New Jersey sees Hughes as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come.
Now, the Devils will need to adjust on the fly. With Hughes out, the defensive rotation gets thinner, and the team loses a key piece of its transition game. His skating, vision, and ability to jumpstart the offense from the back end have been crucial, especially in tight-checking games like the one against Calgary.
Injuries are part of the grind, but for a Devils team trying to stay in the playoff mix, losing Hughes for any stretch of time is a significant blow. The hope now is that the evaluation brings good news - and that the young defenseman won’t be out longer than necessary.