Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the injury occurred at a team dinner on Thursday night. ESPN described the incident as a ‘freak accident.’
‘The expected return to play timeline is eight weeks and he will be re-evaluated at the six-week mark,” the Devils said in a statement.
Hughes played for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is expected to be a candidate for the U.S. Olympic team. The eight-week timeline would put his return around Jan. 10. The Winter Olympics start in February.
Jack Hughes injury update
The Devils said Jack Hughes would be re-evaluated in six weeks and is expected to return to play in eight weeks.
The Devils play 27 games over the next eight weeks.
Hughes, 24, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, had missed 20 games in each of the last two seasons. He needed season-ending shoulder surgery last March after crashing into the boards.
But he had come back strong this season with a team-high 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games for the Eastern Conference-leading Devils.
Hughes had a team-record 99 points in 2022-23 when he played 78 games.
NHL injury updates
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, a U.S. Olympian and Jack’s brother, was scratched from Friday’s game. He left Tuesday’s game with an injury but later returned. Goalie Thatcher Demko (lower body) was placed on the injured list, retroactive to Nov. 11.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (thumb surgery), named to the U.S. Olympic team, took part in an optional practice on Friday.
Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, another U.S. Olympian, was placed on the injured list, retroactive to Tuesday. He suffered a lower-body injury.
Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (broken ankle) and defenseman Caiden Guhle (adductor muscle) had surgery. Newhook will be out four months and Guhle eight to 10 weeks.
Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He went on the injured list.
