Jack Hughes Injury: How It Could Impact the New Jersey Devils’ Trade Strategy | NHL.com

New Jersey Devils Update

The New Jersey Devils faced a tough loss recently when their star player, Jack Hughes, got injured in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. This happened late in the third period, and it was a significant blow to the team’s performance.

Hughes was tripped by Jack Eichel while the Devils were short-handed. He left the ice looking hurt and appeared to be favoring his right shoulder.

Coach Sheldon Keefe did not have an update after the game, making it clear that the team is anxious to learn more about the injury. Depending on how serious it is, the Devils might need to trade for a new center to strengthen their team.

“Seeing him go down is tough,” Keefe commented. “We need to assess the situation further.”

The Devils have a break on Monday before facing the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. They currently hold third place in the Metropolitan Division, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets by four points, though the Jackets have played two fewer games.

Recently, the Devils have been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses in their last 11 games, with a record of 5-6-0. Since January 1, they are 9-10-3, averaging 2.41 goals per game, which ranks them 28th in the NHL. However, their defense has been solid, with a goals-against average of 2.36, placing them tied for third in that category. Notably, they’ve missed defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler since February 4 due to a lower-body injury.

Hughes and Jesper Bratt are the only two forwards on the team with at least five points in the last nine games, each scoring 10. Hughes stands out with 27 goals and a total of 70 points this season, along with seven game-winning goals, leading the team in shots on goal with 229 and averaging 20:54 minutes of ice time.

It’s been a challenging season for the Devils, who haven’t won back-to-back games since late January. In the past 12 seasons, they’ve missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs 10 times. Their last playoff appearance was in 2022-23, where they reached the second round after an impressive season, finishing with a record 52 wins and 112 points.