The New Jersey Devils have announced that star forward Jack Hughes will be out the remainder of the season and playoffs after he had shoulder surgery on Wednesday.
#NEWS: Jack Hughes underwent shoulder surgery earlier today and will be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
Jack is expected to make a full recovery and be available for training camp.
?: https://t.co/m06KjtAdPj pic.twitter.com/E2qNzfROk6
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 5, 2025
Jack Hughes Lost for the Season
Hughes crashed into the boards late in Sunday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. His right shoulder and arm went hard into the boards. When he got up, you could tell things were not good, as his arm was hanging down.
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After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Hughes was being evaluated because his condition did not look good. Then, prior to the game on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, Keefe reiterated that the Devils still did not know the extent of the injury or the timeline for how long he would be out.
During ESPN’s broadcast, Emily Kaplan confirmed that Jack Hughes was in Colorado visiting the same doctor who had performed his left shoulder surgery as he weighed all of his options, including whether or not to have surgery.
Here is the latest on Jack Hughes from @emilymkaplan and @Buccigross from ESPN prior to the Devils Game
My understanding is the same thing they stated about his status. When you saw you knew it was bad. #njdevils pic.twitter.com/n7xZwfSkaf
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 5, 2025
Well, the Devils know he will be lost for the rest of the season. There was no Matthew Tkachuk scenario here. In Florida, Tkachuk has a chance to come back for the playoffs with his groin injury. It was best as the Devils stated in a press release, “following a review of the imaging and subsequent conversations with Jack, his family, representatives, and the Devils’ medical and athlete care staffs, it was determined that Jack would proceed with shoulder surgery.”
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Devils Trade Deadline Plans With Hughes Out
For New Jersey, Hughes will not be seen playing until training camp. This gives the Devils $13 million in LTIR space to use with the NHL Trade Deadline this Friday, March 7th.
With #NJDevils adding Hughes to LTIR. If Siegenthaler remains on LTIR for the season, they can add $13M in additional annual cap hit.https://t.co/oz4kXtWEwi
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 5, 2025
With Hughes out for the season, this will not change how they maneuver the trade deadline. Even before the injury, the Devils were looking to fill needs not only at the center position but also by getting scoring help in the top six and on defense. Instead of looking at rentals, they could be looking at players with a term or a sign-and-trade.
As reported by @Buccigross & @emilymkaplan at the 2nd intermission plans don’t change w/ Jack Hughes injury. They are going to be buyers & active.
Emily brings up Brock Boeser, Ryan Donato, Scott Laughton, and Brock Nelson.
Been saying they need scoring since July. #njdevils pic.twitter.com/4P9wrRA7g1
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 5, 2025
As DevilsNation.com has documented, New Jersey will have to make a hockey trade to fill its center position long-term. With Yanni Gourde and Jake Evans off the board, should President and GM Tom Fitzgerald look to the Buffalo Sabres and make a hockey trade to acquire either Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, JJ Peterka, or Alex Tuch?
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New Jersey could be a player for Mikko Rantanen, whom they have shown interest in. What about Marco Rossi with the Minnesota Wild? The Devils can’t be sellers because the returns will not help. Expectations were the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They still need buyers and to be active.
However, trade will give them creativity and set them up for future success, helping Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt succeed long-term.
