Hughes (rest) will return to action for Game 1 in Carolina on Sunday, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
The Devils rested all their top players Wednesday against Detroit as the game was meaningless as far as the regular season was concerned. Hughes had seven goals and 37 assists in 71 regular-season contests this season. He will likely be demoted to the second power play during the playoffs as Dougie Hamilton (lower body) returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing 18 games.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Won't play vs. Detroit
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Hughes (rest) won't play in Wednesday's regular-season finale versus Detroit, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Hughes will presumably return to the lineup for Game 1 of New Jersey's first-round series against Carolina. He'll finish the regular season of his sophomore campaign with seven goals and 44 points in 71 outings. That's close to his 47-point showing in 2023-24 despite playing in fewer games -- he logged 82 in 2023-24 -- and seeing a major drop in power-play ice time -- he averaged 1:38 this season compared to 3:27 as a rookie.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Adds pair of helpers
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Hughes notched two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over the Bruins.
Hughes has racked up a goal and five helpers over his last seven contests. The 21-year-old may see a reduction in power-play time once Dougie Hamilton (lower body) returns. Hughes has put together a strong campaign with seven goals, 44 points, 121 shots on net, 60 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 71 outings while filling a top-four role most of the time.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Will make return Saturday
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Hughes (groin) will draw back into the lineup Saturday, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Hughes missed Friday's 4-0 loss to the Jets due to the injury. He has six goals and 38 points in 64 outings in 2024-25. Now that he's back, Hughes is likely to serve in a top-four capacity and on the first power-play unit. Dennis Cholowski will be a healthy scratch.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Not playing Friday
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Hughes (lower body) won't play Friday for precautionary reasons.
The precautionary wording suggests Hughes' injury isn't significant, but the Devils don't want to push him. Dennis Cholowski will join the lineup in place of Hughes, who should be considered day-to-day for Saturday's game in Minnesota.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Two points against Pens
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Hughes picked up two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Penguins.
He had a hand in tallies by Cody Glass in the first period and Nico Hischier in the third. The 21-year-old blueliner has embraced his new role as the Devils' top defenseman since Dougie Hamilton (lower body) was lost for the season, and over the last six games -- including the one in which Hamilton got hurt -- Hughes has produced a goal and seven points, including four assists with the man advantage.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Two-point effort in win
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Hughes scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Blue Jackets.
After helping to set up Nico Hischier for the game's opening tally early in the first period, Hughes potted New Jersey's final goal just 26 seconds into the third. The 21-year-old blueliner has caught fire since the 4 Nations Face-Off, and over the last eight games he's produced a goal and nine points. With Dougie Hamilton (lower body) lacking a timeline for his return, Hughes will be leaned on heavily down the stretch as the Devils try to lock up a playoff spot.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Adds helper in win
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Hughes notched an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 3-1 win over Utah.
Hughes has four helpers over his last three games. He briefly left Saturday's contest after taking a hit late in the second period but finished the game with 22:42 of ice time. Hughes has done well in an increased role as the season has progressed. He's up to 26 points, 81 shots on net, 45 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through 52 appearances this campaign.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Provides another assist
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Hughes notched an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Hughes has three helpers over his last two contests, with his latest assist setting up his elder brother, Jack Hughes, for the Devils' lone goal Wednesday. The younger Hughes has earned six points and a plus-1 rating over his last eight outings as he continues to make an impact on offense. For the season, he has 25 points, 79 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating through 51 games.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Dishes pair of helpers
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Hughes logged two assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Predators.
Hughes earned his second multi-point effort in seven outings, a span in which he has two goals and three assists. The 21-year-old defenseman didn't get any power-play time Sunday, but the Devils only had one abbreviated opportunity with the man advantage, so it's nothing to worry about at this time. Hughes is enjoying a strong second NHL campaign with 24 points, 76 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over 50 appearances while maintaining his place on the Devils' deep blue line.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Finds twine against Montreal
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Hughes scored a goal, had one shot on net and blocked one shot in a 4-0 win over the Canadiens on Saturday.
Hughes rounded out the scoring at the 10:09 mark of the third period. He didn't have a point in three straight outings going into Saturday's matchup and has two goals and three helpers in his last 19 appearances. Hughes will probably fall short of his 47-point display over 82 regular-season games in 2023-24 but could surpass the 30-point plateau. He has five goals and 22 points through 48 appearances this campaign.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Back on scoresheet in defeat
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Hughes generated an even-strength assist in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Senators.
Hughes logged the secondary assist on New Jersey's lone goal scored by Tomas Tatar in this contest. Hughes has gone cold in January -- he has just two assists and a minus-5 rating through nine appearances. The left-shot defenseman is manning the No. 2 power-play unit, but he's registered just two points with man advantage since Nov. 30. Overall, Hughes has provided three goals and 19 points through 40 appearances in 2024-25.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: One of each in win
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Hughes found the back of the net on his only shot and added a helper and a plus-2 rating in 18:58 of ice time Friday in a 4-2 win over Carolina.
Hughes registered a secondary helper in the first period before scoring the game-winning goal at 4:15 of the middle frame. The left-shot blueliner has collected two points in back-to-back games and three of his past four. It's been a fruitful month for Hughes -- he's contributed three goals and 11 points in as many games in December after notching just six helpers through his first 18 appearances of the campaign. Hughes seems to have found his form after missing the first nine games of the season with a shoulder injury. The 21-year-old has accounted for three goals, 17 points, six PIM, 47 shots and a plus-3 rating over 29 contests.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Two points Thursday
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Hughes produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.
The 21-year-old defender spoiled Elvis Merzlikins' shutout bid with just under three minutes left in the third period, then helped set up Timo Meier for the Devils' final tally 85 seconds later. Hughes has gotten onto the scoresheet in three straight games, and over the last 16 contests he's racked up two goals and 12 points with 31 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating. After missing the beginning of the season while completing his recovery from shoulder surgery and then managing just one assist over his first 10 appearances of 2024-25, Hughes has quickly made up for lost time and is emerging as a force on the New Jersey blue line.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Tallies in Friday's win
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Hughes scored a goal on two shots in Friday's 3-2 win over the Kraken.
Hughes was credited with the Devils' first goal, which bounced in off a Kraken player. The goal was his first of the year, and he's been hot lately with six helpers over the previous six contests. The 21-year-old blueliner is up to nine points, 30 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through 20 outings overall.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Power-play helper in win
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Hughes posted a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Capitals.
Hughes has two assists over his last four contests. The 21-year-old defenseman continues to be eclipsed by Dougie Hamilton, both at even strength and on the power play. Hughes has just three assists (two on the power play) with 17 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 14 appearances this season. Hughes has talent, but until he can carve out a larger role -- he's averaging just 18:53 of ice time per game -- his fantasy upside is capped.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Secures assist Thursday
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Hughes notched an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Panthers.
Hughes set up a Stefan Noesen tally midway through the first period. This was Hughes' second helper in 11 appearances this season, as he's struggled to generate offense after missing time early in the campaign due to a shoulder injury. The 21-year-old blueliner has added 14 shots on net, nine blocked shots and a minus-3 rating while averaging 18:31 of ice time. The Devils' blue line is pretty deep, so Hughes may remain on the third pairing while featuring on the power play.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Set to return Thursday
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Hughes (shoulder) will play in Thursday's game against the Red Wings, Bill Spaulding of MSG Network reports.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday that Hughes would travel with the team to Detroit but wouldn't confirm whether the defenseman would return to action against the Red Wings. However, Hughes and Brett Pesce (lower leg) led the post-practice stretch Wednesday, and both players have been confirmed as available by Keefe. Hughes played in all 82 games for the Devils last year, racking up nine goals, 47 points and 55 blocked shots.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Traveling with team
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Hughes (shoulder) will join the Devils as they head to Detroit for Thursday's matchup, Devils play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin reports.
While head coach Sheldon Keefe wouldn't confirm that Hughes will be in the lineup versus the Wings, the fact that both Hughes and Brett Pesce (lower leg) led the post-practice stretch Wednesday would see to indicate that the duo will be back in action Thursday. In order for Hughes to play, he will need to be activated off injured reserve, a move that likely will see Daniil Misyul relegated to the press box as a healthy scratch.
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Devils' Luke Hughes: Nearing return to action
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Hughes' (shoulder) return to the lineup is "imminent" but it won't be against the Lightning on Tuesday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hughes wasn't expected back until early November but it seems he is ahead of schedule in his recovery. Once given the all-clear, the 21-year-old blueliner should take on significant minutes on the blue line, though his power-play role is unclear due to the fact that Dougie Hamilton is healthy this year and has already scored a power-play goal through the Devils' first eight games.
