The New Jersey Devils took a massive blow to their Stanley Cup aspirations. New Jersey announced that center Jack Hughes has successfully undergone shoulder surgery and will be placed on the team’s long-term injured reserve. The team noted he’s expected to fully recover and be ready for next year’s training camp, informally confirming he’s done for the 2024-25 season.
The news is nothing short of a disaster for the Devils. After missing the playoffs last season, the team has rebounded into postseason positioning this year, thanks to a healthier group.
Hughes is the leader of that resurgence, too. The former first overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft was tied for the team lead in scoring with 27 goals and 43 assists in 62 games. Interestingly enough, Hughes will finish the 2024-25 campaign with nearly identical production from last season, scoring 27 goals and 47 assists in 62 appearances.
It also extends Hughes’ recurring injury issues from the last several years. Since the NHL returned to a full 82-game schedule after the 2020-21 campaign, Hughes will have only played in 76% of New Jersey’s regular season contests. The team is objectively better when he’s in the lineup, making the situation all the more unbearable for their playoff hopes.
The loss of Hughes will inevitably shift New Jersey’s trade deadline strategy. The Devils had already been rumored to be scouting the market for an upgrade at their third-line center position. They’ll now need two middle-six centers, assuming captain Nico Hischier steps into the first-line role.
If anything, this should make New Jersey more committed to buying. Although they don’t have their first-round pick for the 2025 NHL Draft, the Devils still have a trio of second-round picks and a few tradeable prospects. Defenseman Simon Nemec comes to mind as an obvious headliner for any trade of magnitude. Since the team is placing Hughes on LTIR, that will open up $8MM in cap space for the team to work with.
Still, it’s difficult to think highly of New Jersey’s chances even if they go big-game hunting. It’s improbable the team will have the capacity to acquire a player of Hughes’ caliber in the next two days.
According to James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now, the Devils have reportedly contacted the Carolina Hurricanes regarding Mikko Rantanen’s availability for this circumstance. The Hurricanes are unlikely to move one of their best players to a divisional-rival and likely postseason adversary. Still, Rantanen is exactly the kind of player New Jersey should be pursuing to get reasonably close to filling the void left by Hughes.
Whoa
Well that sure changes their approach headed into the trading deadline
Yikes! That is really unfortunate for the Devils and all fans. Good luck, Jack.
That definately sucks for NJ. Interesting how many players who played in the 4 Nations Tournament are now injured. Makes you wonder.
his injury has nothing to do with 4 Nations bruh
I get your point, but this one was definitely more of a freak accident type than soft tissue or whatever.
Hope he recovers, thats the 2nd major shoulder surgery. Dude is so talented. Even as a rival fan I dont want to see this.
I just wonder how many players had injuries prior to the tournament but wanted to play so badly that they worsened their injury situation. Guess we’ll never know.
Did you even see the hit that injured him? His health prior to the tournament and his play during it are irrelevant.
I was making a more general observation, not just his particular situation.
Such a great talent but clearly he is prone to significant injury. I think this is his 3rd surgery overall. This is not only a shame for NJ and Devils fans but for all hockey fans who enjoy watching Jack’s skill and talent.
Ryan O’Reilly incoming. Could actually fit him and Novak in Hughes cap space. Plus he’d be a good 3 c next year.
Pius Suter will gladly fill the 3A pivot spot, & has been used higher up with some success…
Ok let’s get real.
You don’t sell the farm because it’s simply not out there , you get depth players in any kind of a move and as far as internally it’s simply next man up and tighten up defensively. We have great goal tending B+ Dmen have to be more committed as a team defensively and will be ok.
I hope Fitzgerald doesn’t do a panic move unless you come back with McDavid and that ain’t happening.
Another thing and I’ve said this before Jack needs to put some muscle on and get bigger and stronger too frail he will never succeed in the playoffs where everyone gets slammed!!