New Jersey Devils star forward Jack Hughes will not return to Friday’s game against the St. Louis Blues after suffering an upper-body injury when crashing into the boards midway through the first period. Here’s what you need to know:
- Hughes went down after trying to split two defenders on a drive to the net and appeared to hit his right shoulder and head on the boards.
- He was slow to get up and eventually headed to the Devils’ locker room after logging 3:55 of ice time. He did not return for the start of the second period and was officially ruled out ahead of the third.
- The 22-year-old center entered Friday leading the NHL in points (20) and assists (15).
Backstory
Hughes, selected by New Jersey with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, led the Devils with 43 goals and 56 assists across 78 games in 2022-23.
New Jersey sits in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-2-1 record through the first nine games of the season.
Required reading
(Photo: Jeff Curry / USA Today)
