The New Jersey Devils placed center Jack Hughes on injured reserve Thursday because of his dislocated left shoulder.
The Devils said an MRI didn’t reveal any other damage and that he won’t require surgery. He is taking part in physical therapy and will be re-evaluated in a week.
“Probably the best case,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “It’s bad, but it probably could have been worse.
“We had a real good conversation yesterday. We talked about the injury, talked about the amount of time (it might take to recover). We talked about the fact he’s young and will heal quick, getting back and just being ready to take off where he finished off here. Obviously very disappointed and down on being hurt, but I just tried to pick him up a little bit.”
The injury apparently occurred Tuesday when Hughes was hit into the boards late in the first period of New Jersey’s 4-2 win against the expansion Seattle Kraken. The 20-year-old did not return to the game.
Michael McLeod will join Yegor Sharangovich and Janne Kuokkanen on the second line in the absence of Hughes.
Hughes, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, has played in 119 games with the Devils, recording 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists). He scored two goals in the season-opening 4-3 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks and added an assist before leaving the game against the Kraken.
The Devils also will be without goaltender Jonathan Bernier when they host the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. He is out with a lower-body injury. Scott Wedgewood is expected to get the start. The team recalled Nico Daws from Utica of the American Hockey League.
–Field Level Media
