New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes suffered a “chance accident” at a team dinner, source Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Friday.
The Devils star forward reportedly suffered a cut to one of his hands while eating. The precise details of the situation are unknown at this stage. Nonetheless, the unusual nature of the accident raised concerns about Hughes’ future with the team.
According to Friedman, Hughes will not play in the Devils’ next game against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. It’s also unclear how long Hughes might be out of the lineup. The injury could be significant, as it will force the 24-year-old to miss a game.
More details will surely follow, as losing Hughes would be a big blow for the Devils. New Jersey is off to a strong start to the season, with Hughes playing a major role. In 17 games, Hughes had 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points.
Jack Hughes and his long injury history in New Jersey
Unfortunately for the New Jersey Devils, Jack Hughes has a long injury history. He was limited to 62 games in each of the last two seasons. Last year, in particular, the Devils’ starting center suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The illness required surgery but healed in time for the start of this season.
The injury suffered in March was his second major shoulder problem. During the 2023–24 season, Hughes suffered his first major shoulder injury, sidelining him for a significant portion of the season.
Throughout his career, Hughes missed time due to numerous upper body injuries. Even though offseason surgery seemingly resolved his shoulder issues, he continued to miss time.
Friday’s hand injury shouldn’t be a major concern for the Devils. But it still remains frustrating to see your best player get injured in various ways.
After Saturday’s game against the Capitals, the Devils will face the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. If the injury is not serious, then Hughes could be back in the lineup. But if the injury requires multiple stitches, Hughes could be out several games.
The exact timeline of Jack Hughes’ injury will not be known until the team provides further information. In the meantime, coach Sheldon Keefe will have to juggle his lines to accommodate Hughes’ absence.
Edited by Nestor Quixtan
