New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes is scheduled to return from injury in Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed. Hughes’ comeback marks a significant development as the Devils manage illness-related lineup changes ahead of the match.
Recent Challenges and Family Highlights
At 22 years old, Hughes has endured multiple setbacks this season, including a shoulder injury sustained on January 20 during a collision with Justin Kirkland of the Calgary Flames. This injury forced him to miss several games. Meanwhile, his brothers Jack and Quinn made headlines by winning Olympic gold medals, with Jack scoring the overtime winner in the final and Quinn delivering a key goal in the quarterfinals.
Hughes’ Performance and Injury History
Before his injury, Hughes contributed five goals and 21 assists in 48 games, logging an average of 23 minutes and 20 seconds per game while maintaining a minus-8 rating. He has previously struggled with shoulder issues, including surgery following the 2024-25 season. Additionally, an off-season shoulder injury during 2024 training sidelined him at the start of the regular season.
Implications for the Devils Moving Forward
Luke Hughes’ return is expected to bolster the Devils’ defense as the team navigates multiple absences due to illness. Coach Keefe has not yet decided which players will be sidelined to accommodate Hughes. This game will be an important step in assessing Hughes’ recovery and impact as New Jersey looks to regain stability in their lineup.
Luke Hughes is in today for #NJDevils but right now it’s unclear who is coming out as there are players dealing with an illness.
Sheldon Keefe said it will be a gametime decision who comes out. So we’ll have to wait for warmups.
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) February 28, 2026
