New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes is injured again.
Hughes left the Devils’ bench during the first period of their Thursday night tilt with the Nashville Predators for the New Jersey locker room.
He returned a few minutes later and took a shift.
However, the shift was short-lived, quickly skating off the ice with little enthusiasm and heading right back down the Devils’ tunnel.
Hughes did not return for the second period, and his night was over after just 2:27 of time on ice over three shifts.
New Jersey Hockey Now learned Hughes left with an injury and not an equipment issue.
Hughes joins Cody Glass on the injured list of Devils players, which is a big hit to the center depth.
A significant injury would be the third in three seasons for the Devils’ franchise face. This is the second time Hughes is hurt this season. He previously injured himself in an off-ice, freak accident while out at a team dinner in November.
Hughes sliced his pinky on broken glass and required surgery to repair it.
In 35 games this season, Hughes scored 12 goals and 36 points. In 18 games since returning from his hand injury, Hughes accrued two goals and 16 points.
Another injury to the Devils superstar raises a lot of questions. What will be his status moving forward at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Will he be able to return after the Olympic break if he misses time? What will the Devils do at the trade deadline if he’s forced to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season?
The Devils were in the same unfortunate situation last season, when Hughes’ season ended following shoulder surgery.
New Jersey made the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the skin of their teeth, but were bounced from the first round in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.
*This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
