The New Jersey Devils are going to have to navigate a significant stretch without one of their most important young stars. Defenseman Luke Hughes has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury, retroactive to January 19.
The injury occurred during Monday night’s matchup against the Calgary Flames, when Hughes got tangled up along the boards in a puck battle with Justin Kirkland. He exited the game before the halfway point and didn’t return, clearly in discomfort as he made his way to the locker room.
While the full extent of the injury is still being evaluated, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters after the team’s win over the Edmonton Oilers that Hughes is expected to “miss some time.” According to a report from ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, Hughes is opting for rehab over surgery, a decision that suggests the team is hoping for a return later this season - but nothing is guaranteed.
This is a tough loss for a Devils squad that leans heavily on Hughes in all situations. He’s not just producing - five goals and 21 assists on the year - he’s also logging the most ice time on the team, averaging 23:04 per game. That kind of workload speaks volumes about how much trust the coaching staff has in him, and how central he’s become to the Devils’ identity on the back end.
Now, the pressure shifts to the rest of the defensive corps. Veterans like Jonas Siegenthaler and Brenden Dillon will be asked to shoulder more responsibility, both in terms of minutes and leadership. Siegenthaler’s steady presence and Dillon’s physical edge will be key as the Devils try to stay competitive in a tight playoff race.
It’s also worth noting that this isn’t Hughes’s first run-in with shoulder trouble. He dealt with a similar issue ahead of last season and ultimately underwent surgery last May after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That history adds a layer of concern - not just about his availability this season, but about how the team manages his long-term health.
To help fill the void, the Devils have recalled Colton White from AHL Utica. He’s already joined the team in Vancouver as they continue their four-game road trip, which resumes Friday night against the Canucks. White, a depth defenseman with NHL experience, will likely slot into a third-pairing role, but any minutes he can eat up will be valuable as the Devils look to stabilize their blue line.
Injuries are part of the grind, especially in the second half of the season, but losing a player like Hughes - who’s been so impactful on both ends of the ice - is a real test. The Devils will need to find answers quickly if they want to keep pace in the Eastern Conference.