Jack Hughes will not be playing for the New Jersey Devils before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Devils have one more game on the schedule against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on Thursday evening.
New Jersey held practice on Wednesday and the Devils star center was absent. As was Nico Hischier, and Connor Brown.
The anticipation is that Hughes will still be playing for Team USA at the Olympic games and there is no concern on his status.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe issued the following statement on Hughes not playing on Thursday.
“Jack has just not improved enough to the point that our medical team will not let him get out there. He’s not going to be available tomorrow… They say he’s in the day-to-day category and it just so happens we don’t have a lot of days left over here.”
The Devils captain will be available to play, however.
New Jersey will have four centers ready to play the Islanders on Thursday after they reeled in newly acquired forward, Nick Bjugstad.
Bjugstad will be one of four centers against the Islanders, including Hischier, Cody Glass, and Luke Glendening.
Hughes left the Devils’ bench during the first period of last Thursday’s tilt with the Nashville Predators for the New Jersey locker room. He attempted to return, however, went back to the locker room after one shift.
Keefe explained it’s a lower-body injury that’s hampering the Devils center.
During the Sweep the Deck event on Monday night at the Prudential Center, Hughes explained he’s taking his recovery “day-by-day.”
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.
The Devils sit nine points out of playoff position and are chasing the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
