Hughes (shoulder) is expected to play versus the Islanders on Friday.
There was a chance the Devils would hold Hughes out to avoid having him play back-to-back games right after returning from his shoulder injury. The 21-year-old defenseman should see top-four minutes and power-play time after earning an assist with the man advantage in his season debut Thursday, a 5-3 loss to the Red Wings.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Game-time decision Friday
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Hughes could be a game-time decision Friday versus the Islanders, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.
Hughes played his first game of the season Thursday against the Red Wings after missing the first nine games of the season with a shoulder injury. The Devils may not want him to play back-to-back games this quickly, and he could be a healthy scratch. The Devils play again Sunday at home versus Anaheim, and barring any setbacks, look for Hughes to be in the lineup. Hughes picked up an assist in 15:11 of action Thursday.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Set to return Thursday
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Hughes (shoulder) will play in Thursday's game against the Red Wings, Bill Spaulding of MSG Network reports.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday that Hughes would travel with the team to Detroit but wouldn't confirm whether the defenseman would return to action against the Red Wings. However, Hughes and Brett Pesce (lower leg) led the post-practice stretch Wednesday, and both players have been confirmed as available by Keefe. Hughes played in all 82 games for the Devils last year, racking up nine goals, 47 points and 55 blocked shots.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Traveling with team
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Hughes (shoulder) will join the Devils as they head to Detroit for Thursday's matchup, Devils play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin reports.
While head coach Sheldon Keefe wouldn't confirm that Hughes will be in the lineup versus the Wings, the fact that both Hughes and Brett Pesce (lower leg) led the post-practice stretch Wednesday would see to indicate that the duo will be back in action Thursday. In order for Hughes to play, he will need to be activated off injured reserve, a move that likely will see Daniil Misyul relegated to the press box as a healthy scratch.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Nearing return to action
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Hughes' (shoulder) return to the lineup is "imminent" but it won't be against the Lightning on Tuesday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hughes wasn't expected back until early November but it seems he is ahead of schedule in his recovery. Once given the all-clear, the 21-year-old blueliner should take on significant minutes on the blue line, though his power-play role is unclear due to the fact that Dougie Hamilton is healthy this year and has already scored a power-play goal through the Devils' first eight games.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Surfaces on injured reserve
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Hughes (shoulder) landed on injured reserve Monday, per PuckPedia.
Hughes has not resumed skating after suffering a shoulder injury during offseason training. The 21-year-old skated in all 82 regular-season contests with the Devils last season, banking 47 points and a minus-25 rating. Fellow blueliner Dougie Hamilton will quarterback New Jersey's top power-play unit while Hughes is sidelined.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Contributes assist Sunday
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Hughes notched an assist and added a shot on net in Sunday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Predators.
Hughes provided the primary assist on the opening goal of the game. He also added one shot on net, two blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-1 rating in 24:43 of ice time. The 22-year-old defenseman extended his point streak to seven games, but he hasn't registered a multi-point game since March 21. With 45 points on the season, Hughes now has the second-most by a rookie defenseman in team history.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Posts helper in loss
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Hughes notched an assist, four shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Sabres.
Hughes has a goal and seven helpers over his last six contests, one of his best runs of the season. The rookie defenseman is up to 41 points, 123 shots on net, 46 blocked shots and a minus-20 rating through 74 contests overall. Hughes continues to offer fantasy upside with a significant power-play role -- his helper Friday was his first at even strength since March 14.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Five assists in last two games
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Hughes delivered three power-play assists Thursday in a 4-1 victory over the Jets.
He played 20:30 on the night and fired six shots. Hughes has five assists, including four with the man advantage, in his last two games. The points move him into a tie with Brock Faber of Minnesota for second in rookie scoring (38) behind Connor Bedard (54). Hughes had seemingly hit a wall earlier on, tallying 10 points, including nine assists, in 30 games prior to this mini-run. That shouldn't be surprising -- the 20-year-old defender is one season removed from an NCAA season where he played 39 games. Hughes has now played 70 this campaign. His talent is undeniable, but his fatigue is real. But if the Devils keep putting him on the power play, Hughes could give you an end-of-season burst.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Pockets helper in win
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Hughes notched an assist and four shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Predators.
Hughes dropped the puck off to his older brother Jack Hughes, who went end to end for the Devils' first goal. The younger Hughes entered Tuesday on a five-game slump before earning the helper. The 20-year-old defenseman has eight goals, 19 helpers, 76 shots on net, 32 blocked shots and a minus-10 rating through 52 outings overall in his rookie year.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Making mark in team record book
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Hughes scored a goal in a 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Saturday.
Hughes is the second rookie defenseman in Devils history to score in three straight games, joining Barry Beck in 1977-78. He has five points (three goals, two assists) in those three games. Hughes leads all rookie defenders with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists), and he sits fourth overall in scoring among first-year players behind Connor Bedard (32 points), Adam Fantilli (23) and Marco Rossi (22). Perhaps more impressively, Hughes is averaging almost 19:59 of ice time through 35 games. He's making a big impact at just 20 years of age.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Has three-point game
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Hughes collected a goal and two assists in a 6-2 victory over Ottawa on Friday.
Hughes' older brother, Jack Hughes, also recorded a tally and two helpers, which makes it the first time a pair of siblings have each contributed at least three points for the same team in a single game since Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin last accomplished that feat Dec. 15, 2017, per the NHL. It's also the first time the 20-year-old Hughes recorded at least three points in an outing, though it is the fifth multi-point contest of his rookie campaign. His offensive production did stall with a seven-game scoring drought from Dec. 10-23, but he's supplied two goals and two assists over his last two contests and is up to six markers and 20 points in 34 appearances this year.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Deposits power-play goal
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Hughes scored a power-play goal in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Canucks.
Hughes' tally, set up by his older brother Jack Hughes, gave the Devils a 5-2 lead in the second period. Over the last five games, the 20-year-old Hughes has three goals and two assists, with three of those five points coming on the power play. It appears he has the edge for power-play time while Dougie Hamilton (pectoral) is out, but Simon Nemec has already seen substantial defensive assignments in his first two contests. Hughes is up to 15 points (eight on the power play), 36 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating through 23 appearances this season.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Bags power-play goal in victory
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Hughes scored a power-play goal in Friday's 5-4 overtime win against the Islanders.
Hughes had a familiar face assisting on his goal, as brother Jack Hughes had the primary apple. Luke's only shot on goal resulted in the goal, while he added two blocked shots in his 17:41 of ice time across 26 shifts. He has six career NHL games under his belt, with two goals and three points. He'll look to keep things going Tuesday in Montreal.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Two helpers in playoff debut
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Hughes recorded a pair of assists in 14:28 of ice time in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Hurricanes.
Hughes, making his postseason debut for the Devils with Ryan Graves (upper body) sidelined, recorded a helper on Damon Severson's goal in the second period before adding a second assist on Ondrej Palat's power-play tally in the third. It was a strong debut for the 19-year-old Hughes, the fourth-overall pick in the 2021 draft. If Graves is forced to miss additional time, Hughes could provide an offensive boost on New Jersey's blue line, though he's also likely to see somewhat sheltered minutes given his lack of experience.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Playing Sunday
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Hughes will make his NHL playoff debut in Game 3 on Sunday versus Carolina, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hughes will replace the injured Ryan Graves, who suffered an upper-body injury Friday in Game 2. Hughes had a goal and an assist in two regular-season games after he completed his sophomore season with the University of Michigan. The fourth-overall pick in 2021, Hughes will see action on the second power play.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: OT winner for first NHL goal
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Hughes logged an assist and scored the winning goal in Thursday's 5-4 overtime victory over the Capitals.
Hughes picked up his first NHL point with an assist on Eric Haula's goal late in the first period. He'd later pot his first NHL goal, weaving through Washington's defense before grabbing his own rebound and depositing a wraparound to score the overtime winner 4:33 into the extra frame. It's an encouraging way to end the regular season for the 19-year-old blueliner, who logged 21:13 of ice time in his second NHL contest. It'll be interesting to see if the Devils elect to dress Hughes when they open the postseason against the Rangers on Tuesday.
