Devils’ Jack Hughes won’t play Saturday vs. Canucks

The New Jersey Devils announced that forward Jack Hughes will not play on Saturday vs. the Vancouver Canucks.

The 22-year-old Hughes suffered an injury after an awkward fall during the third period of the Devils’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. He finished his shift but went to the locker room and did not return.

Hughes is having another monster offensive season, scoring 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points. What’s more impressive is that the 2019 No. 1 overall pick already missed five games earlier in the season, meaning he’s averaging 1.41 points-per-game in 2023-24.

Last season, Hughes hit career highs across the board with 43 goals and 56 assists for 99 points in 78 games. Through five NHL seasons, Hughes has 102 goals and 150 assists for 252 points in 276 career games.

He will miss another opportunity to play with his two brothers — Devils’ teammate Luke and Canucks’ captain Quinn — as the trio played against one another in early December when the Canucks hosted the Devils.

The Devils are 21-14-2 with 44 points and fifth in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have won two straight games. Going into Saturday night, they hold the second Wild Card spot.

After Saturday’s game, New Jersey will have four days off before facing the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road next Thursday, then head down the in-state road and take on the Florida Panthers the following Saturday. They wrap up the road trip in Massachusetts when they face the Boston Bruins on Jan. 15.