Devils’ Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce to make season debuts tonight vs. Red Wings

New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce will make their season debuts tonight versus the Detroit Red Wings.

Hughes is coming off a rookie season that saw him tally nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points in 82 games, he was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Hughes hurt his shoulder in the offseason while training, which has kept him out of the lineup.

Pesce signed a six-year contract with the Devils in July, carrying an AAV of $5.5 million through the 2029-30 season. Pesce underwent surgery to repair a fractured fibula that he sustained during last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs with the Carolina Hurricanes, the injury limited Pesce to just two games.

The 29-year-old tallied 13 points in 70 games with the Hurricanes last season.  Throughout his career, playing all games in Carolina, Pesce has notched 39 goals and 159 assists for 198 points, averaging 21:05 of ice time in 627 career games. In 57 post-season games, Pesce has five goals and 16 assists for 21 points, averaging a whopping 23:25 of ice time.

Pesce was oringally drafted by the Hurricanes in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the Tarrytown, N.Y., native spent three seasons in the NCAA with the University of New Hampshire.

After sweeping the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Global Series in Czechia earlier this month, New Jersey has won five of its first eight games, with their 5-2-1 record placing them at the top of the Metropolitan Division.

Following tonight’s matchup against Detroit, the Devils will play the New York Islanders on Friday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.