Overview
- Jack Hughes underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday after a collision during Sunday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
- The injury leaves the Devils without their leading scorer, who has 70 points this season, for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
- New Jersey has placed Hughes on long-term injured reserve, freeing up salary cap space ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline.
- The Devils, currently third in the Metropolitan Division, face increased pressure to maintain their playoff spot with 19 games left in the season.
- The team may explore trade options for a veteran center to offset Hughes' absence, with potential targets including Brock Nelson and Ryan O'Reilly.