Devils' Jack Hughes Sidelined After Unfortunate Accident; Expected to Miss Two Months
In a shocking turn of events, the New Jersey Devils will be without their star center, Jack Hughes, for approximately two months following a freak accident. The 24-year-old sustained a hand injury on Thursday night at a team dinner in Chicago. Initial reports indicated a "non-hockey" related injury, but further details have emerged clarifying the bizarre circumstances.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Hughes reportedly slipped and cut his hand during the team dinner. Sources are calling it a "fluke accident". The Devils stayed in Chicago after their Wednesday night overtime victory against the Blackhawks.
The team announced on Friday that Hughes underwent surgery on his finger and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. A return within eight weeks would allow Hughes to potentially represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Hughes' absence is a significant blow to the Metropolitan Division-leading Devils (12-4-1). He leads the team with 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games this season. The former first-overall pick has been a driving force for the Devils' offense. In 385 career games, Hughes has amassed 151 goals and 371 points since his debut in the 2019-2020 season.
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate, as the Devils are already dealing with a series of injuries. Cody Glass and Zack MacEwen were injured during Wednesday's game against Chicago, and Evgenii Dadonov is out with a broken hand sustained on opening night.
The Devils played their first game without Hughes on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. The team will need to rely on its depth and other key players to step up in Hughes' absence.
The nature of Hughes' injury has sparked considerable discussion among fans and analysts. While the circumstances are unusual, the focus remains on his recovery and the Devils' ability to maintain their strong start to the season. The team hopes Hughes will have a quick recovery and return to form.
