New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s NHL draft, will miss Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day, interim coach Alain Nasreddine announced.
In 36 games, Hughes, 18, has six goals and 16 points as a rookie. Since the last-place Devils traded former leading scorer Taylor Hall to the Arizona Coyotes last month, Hughes has built up some momentum playing on the second line. He has four points in seven games since the deal, and he scored the game-winning goal in overtime Sunday during a 4-3 victory in Ottawa. He also scored in the shootout of New Jersey’s 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
It was in the victory over Boston, however, that Hughes took an awkward hit into the boards during the third period. He remained in the game and took two shifts in overtime before scoring in the shootout.
Nasreddine said Hughes took part briefly in the morning skate Thursday, in Uniondale, N.Y., but that the team wants to be careful. The Devils next play Saturday at home against the Colorado Avalanche.