Jack Hughes has seen his 2024-25 season come to a premature end.
The 23-year-old superstar center for the New Jersey Devils had shoulder surgery on Wednesday and won’t be back until the fall. Hughes suffered the injury in New Jersey’s 2-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
Hughes had 70 points (27g, 43a) in 62 games for the Devils this season.
#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
Hughes, who has a history of shoulder injuries, was sent careening into the boards on an odd-man rush against the Golden Knights after getting tangled up with Jack Eichel. The Florida native was in visible pain holding his right arm as he headed back to New Jersey’s bench and went directly to the team’s locker room.
No penalty was called on the play, incensing Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe was subsequently ejected and given an unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty.
The Devils announced they have placed Hughes on long-term injured reserve. Moving his $8 million salary to LTIR currently gives the team the ability to add up to a $13 million annual cap hit.
New Jersey doesn’t have much depth scoring as after Hughes and Jesper Bratt (70 points), their next top scorer is center Nico Hischier, who has 49 points (26g, 23a) in 57 games. Only Hughes and Hischier have scored 20 goals this year.
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
New Jersey is sitting in a playoff spot, third in the Metropolitan Division, with 72 standings points after 63 games. They have a slim four-point lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets and a six-point lead on the New York Rangers with both teams holding two games in hand on them.
Below those two teams are the Detroit Red Wings (66), Ottawa Senators (65), Montreal Canadiens (65), Boston Bruins (64), New York Islanders (63), and Philadelphia Flyers (62), who are all within 10 points of the Devils.
