Devils’ Jack Hughes out for season after shoulder surgery
The New Jersey Devils will be without center Jack Hughes for the rest of the season.
On Wednesday, the team confirmed that the 23-year-old had undergone successful shoulder surgery and would be out for the remainder of 2024-25. Hughes has also been placed on long-term injured reserve, but is expected to return for the Devils’ training camp ahead of the 2025-26 season.
His absences leave the team lacking at center as Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline approaches.
Hughes had to leave New Jersey’s Sunday clash with the Vegas Golden Knights early after crashing into the boards due to a tangle up with Jack Eichel as he exited the defensive zone on a penalty kill.
Jack Hughes was injured on this play against the Golden Knights. He underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. https://t.co/zMvB0pvPPv pic.twitter.com/XbKTKq0Fgc
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 5, 2025Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was irate with the situation and the on-ice officials’ approach to it and was kicked out of the game before further being fined $25,000. The Devils were given a bench minor, and Keefe a game misconduct for his actions as the Golden Knights went on to win 2-0.
Through 62 games in 2024-25, Hughes has 27 goals and 70 points and played with Team USA alongside Eichel at the 4 Nations Face-Off. In his NHL career, he’s posted 141 goals and 210 points in 368 regular-season games.
“Real hard to see him go down,” Keefe told reporters after Sunday’s game. “It didn’t look good.”
Jack’s injury continues a worrying time for the Hughes NHL brothers, with Quinn Hughes also suffering from several injuries, primarily in his hand this season. Quinn is not set to play with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday as they host the Anaheim Ducks, after also missing international duties with Team USA.
The Devils sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 72 points in 63 games. They don’t hit the ice again until after Friday’s 2:00 pm ET NHL Trade Deadline, with their next game that evening against the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets.