The New Jersey Devils will be without star defenseman Luke Hughes for a while.
On Wednesday, the Devils announced they placed the 22-year-old defenseman on long-term injured reserve retroactive to January 19th and called up defenseman Colton White in a corresponding move. Hughes suffered a separated shoulder in the second period of New Jersey’s tilt with the Calgary Flames on Monday, a 2-1 win in overtime.
A player on LTIR is required to miss at least 10 games and 24 days. Hughes was already absent on Tuesday in another Devils’ 2-1 victory, this time over the Edmonton Oilers.
A source explained to New Jersey Hockey Now that the Devils are not at the point where they are prepared to declare Hughes out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Further, it was explained Hughes is still being evaluated.
Therefore, under the NHLs new collective bargaining agreement, the Devils will receive up to $3,817,293 in salary cap relief with Hughes on LTIR. If New Jersey decides Hughes will be out for the remainder of the year, they will then receive his full $9 million cap hit.
ESPN insider Emily Kaplan later posted on X (formerly Twitter), “After consulting with doctors, Luke Hughes will not get surgery for now and instead rehab his upper body injury.
“The Devils placed Hughes on LTIR today; he’s expected to be sidelined through the Olympic break then [it’s to be determined].”
Hughes signed a seven-year extension to remain in New Jersey in September 2025 that carries an average annual value of $9 million. Hughes missed training camp but was signed for the first game of the 2025-26 regular season.
In 49 games this season, Hughes has potted five goals and 26 points in 23:04 of average time on ice. Hughes skated in his 200th NHL game last week against the Winnipeg Jets.
