Team USA experienced a case of friendly fire over the weekend, resulting in a significant loss for one of its stars. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes has been sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury sustained during a collision with Jack Eichel on Saturday. The team announced this development on Wednesday.
During a game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Devils were attempting to score late in the third period when Nico Hischier took a shot. Hughes was unable to secure the rebound, leading to a hard crash into the boards after colliding with Eichel. Both players had recently participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA, where they were on the same line, and Eichel immediately checked on Hughes following the incident.
Hughes left the ice hunched over, with his right arm appearing to dangle. The team provided minimal updates, only confirming that he flew back east the day after the injury. On Wednesday, they revealed that he underwent surgery in Colorado. “Obviously, it didn’t look good…” said Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe after the game. “It’s tough to see, especially since it was a similar play he was penalized for earlier in the period.”
Luke Hughes, Jack’s brother, was visibly emotional upon entering the locker room as media gathered for postgame interviews. The Devils have been struggling lately, with another star player, Dougie Hamilton, also dealing with an injury. After leading the Metropolitan Division during the holidays, the Devils have a record of 10-13-3 since Christmas.
While their playoff position appears secure with 19 games remaining, other teams are closing in with games in hand. Once viewed as Stanley Cup contenders, the Devils now face challenges with their best player out for the season. If they maintain their playoff spot, it would mark their second postseason appearance in three years, following just one appearance from 2013 to 2022.
This marks the second consecutive season in which Hughes has played only 62 games due to injuries. He recorded 27 goals and 40 assists this season and was the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
