Devils’ Luke Hughes activated from long-term injured reserve

A struggling team is set to return to action.

According to the NHL Media Site, New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes has been activated from long-term injured reserve and is eligible to return to the lineup on Saturday when the team takes on the St. Louis Blues.

Hughes has been out of action since Jan. 19, when he suffered an upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames. He reportedly suffered a separated shoulder, with the team placing the young rearguard on LTIR shortly thereafter.

The Manchester, N.H. native has missed the team’s last 10 games, which has seen the Devils continue their downward spiral toward the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey went 3-7-0 with the younger Hughes out of the lineup, including losing each of its past four games.

In his 49 appearances thus far, the 22-year-old has scored five goals and 21 assists for 26 points, leading the team in defensive scoring, while sitting sixth overall. He also has a plus/minus of -8, while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game. His 23:04 TOI is over a minute above Dougie Hamilton for the highest average on the team.

Hughes is in his third full season with the Devils. After posting a career-high 47 points during his rookie campaign in 2023-24, the former Michigan Wolverine notched seven goals and 44 points last season. While the team has faltered this year, he has proven to be an important piece on the team’s back end, and is expected to be a key part of the Devils’ future.

In 204 career games, he has scored 22 goals and 97 assists for 119 points. He has two assists in four Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Devils (28-29-2) are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, seven points ahead of the New York Rangers for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey entered Saturday 13 points back of the last Wild Card spot.