Playing Devil's Advocate: What's Next for Luke Hughes and the Devils?

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With the beginning of the NHL season right around the corner, teams across the league are doing everything they can to prepare. Arenas are getting ready to welcome back excited fans. Training camps are underway, and teams are getting ready to select their official rosters. Most importantly, it is critical that all players are healthy going into the long season that spans from the preseason at the end of September, to the postseason in June. It’s certainly not ideal for a team to lose one of their starting players due to an injury, especially a week before the preseason starts. This is the dilemma the New Jersey Devils are facing. Last week, it was announced that defenseman Luke Hughes is going to be out for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury. The Devil’s have certainly taken a hit, and many questions have risen. Is it the right thing for Hughes to sit out so long? What will the beginning of the season look like for the Devils?

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Ever since he stepped off the ice at the University of Michigan’s Yost Arena and into Prudential Center in the spring of 2023, there was no doubt that Hughes was going to make an impact on the Devils’ defense. Hughes had just come off an incredible sophomore year: he was captain of Team USA’s U-20 team at the World Junior Championships (where he led his team to a bronze medal win), led the nation’s defensemen in points per game, was one of Michigan’s alternate captains, won the Big Ten Tournament and took a trip to the NCAA’s Frozen Four Tournament.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Frozen Four, Hughes signed an entry-level contract with the Devils. He hit the ice a few days later, where he very quickly made a statement in his first few NHL games. In fact, his first goal was an overtime winner. He helped the Devils make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four seasons, where he got to experience his first taste of playoff hockey before they were eliminated in the second round.

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This past season, during his first full rookie season, Hughes continued to build momentum and etch himself as one of the NHL’s brightest young stars. Over the course of the season, he scored 47 points, which tied him second among all rookies, as well as nine goals. He was also one of the five players on the Devils’ roster to play all 82 regular season games. He was a Calder Trophy finalist for best rookie in the league, ranked behind the Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard and the Minnesota Wild’s Brock Faber. 

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Reportedly, Hughes injured himself during offseason training, and is expected to return between October 20 and November 3. By that time, the Devils will already be close to a month into the regular season. Last season, the Devils struggled with inconsistency, which caused them to miss the playoffs. They fired their head coach Lindy Ruff and hired interim head coach Travis Green to finish out the season. However, during the end of May, the Devils hired former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe has been described by many as a good communicator who knows how to get the best out of his players. For injury recovery, it is critical for players to have good communication with their coach. Keefe knows that Hughes is a critical puzzle piece in playoff contention. If both can establish clear communication channels and a plan for Hughes’ recovery and reintegration, he recovery is more likely to be closer to six weeks rather than eight.

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In the meantime, someone needs to step up to fill Hughes’ skates. One defensive prospect who stands out is fellow Michigan product Seamus Casey. Casey, 20, signed an entry-level contract with the Devils after his sophomore season at Michigan, and is now eligible to play in the NHL. He led Michigan’s defense in points with 45, racking up 38 assists with his excellent puck vision. He has also matured a lot in his game over this past year, which is sure to impress Keefe at training camp. Should he make the official roster, Casey would add some much needed depth to the Devils’ defense to fill Hughes’ spot. 

Though the Devils have a lot of catching up to do to get back to where they were, this setback certainly won’t hold them back. They have a new coach and new talent. Soon enough, Hughes will be healthy and back on the ice helping the Devils have a comeback season.

Edited by Jenna Mandarano