Jack Hughes is out Week-To-Week with Upper Body Injury
Via James Guillory | USA Today Sports
The New Jersey Devils have been one of the more surprising teams in the 2022-2023 NHL season. Through 51 games the Devils have a record of 34-13-4 for a total of 72 points, which is good enough for second in the Metropolitan Division and third in the NHL standings. One of the main reasons for the team’s success this season has been the play of center Jack Hughes. Unfortunately for New Jersey, Hughes has gone down with an upper-body injury and is out week-to-week.
The 21-year-old center has been on an absolute tear this season. Through 50 games, Hughes has scored 35 goals and 32 assists for a total of 67 points. His 35 goals are good enough for third in the league behind only Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak. His 67 points put him ninth in league points. He has scored 17 goals and 28 points since December 30; both are first in the league in that time span.
Hughes did play in New Jersey’s game against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night, scoring two goals and notching one assist in 21:44 of ice time in the 5-4 win. He missed some shifts but played in the third period and got an assist on Jesper Bratt’s overtime-winning goal.
The Devils selected Hughes with the first-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and he has been on the team ever since. He has not played in more than 61 games in a season so far in his career due to injuries. It seemed as if he had finally shed his injury troubles this season, but the injury bug has hit Hughes once again. Hughes did not participate in practice on Tuesday and returned to practice on Wednesday, but he left early.
New Jersey managed to pull out a win in their first game without Hughes, beating the Seattle Kraken 3-1. They will be looking to continue that momentum until Hughes finally returns to continue the career year he is having.
