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Devils Receive Devastating Update on Jack Hughes

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 4:57 PM ET

The New Jersey Devils have enjoyed a bounce-back season after missing the playoffs last year, but their outlook took a big casualty on Wednesday.

Jack Hughes is out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season following shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

The Devils stated that he is "expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp."

Hughes sustained the shoulder injury after colliding with the boards late in the Devils' loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

“Obviously, it didn’t look good,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said following the 2-0 loss. “We’re going to have to take the time to know the full extent of it. It’s tough to see, especially it’s a similar play he got called on earlier in the period.”

The franchise's star had paced the team with 27 goals and 70 points in 62 games.

With their leading scorer sidelined, the Devils have less than two days to reconsider their strategy ahead of the March 7 trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET.

#NEWS: Jack Hughes underwent shoulder surgery earlier today and will be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).

Jack is expected to make a full recovery and be available for training camp.

: https://t.co/m06KjtAdPj pic.twitter.com/E2qNzfROk6
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 5, 2025

Before the season-ending surgery announcement was made by the team, ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the loss of Hughes could turn the Devils from deadline buyers to sellers.

"As of Tuesday, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes was still getting second opinions on his upper-body injury and the best course of treatment. Either way, he’s expected to be out for a bit. Before the injury, the Devils were buyers — looking to shore up center and forward depth. I expect them to still look at forwards, especially ones that could help their biggest issue: 5-on-5 scoring. But given the circumstances, I now think they could be in on rentals, too.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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