New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes is one of the most talented players in the league. The first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Hughes has been perfect offensively. However, he has sustained several injuries that have limited his potential. Are the injuries enough to make the Devils worry about his career going forward?
Hughes injury list in NHL career
1. In November 2025, he sliced his finger open during a team dinner which required surgery and was to be out 8 weeks.
2. March 2025 saw Hughes have shoulder surgery after a hit into the boards, which ended his season prematurely.
3. In January 2025 had an upper-body injury.
4. In November 2023 Hughes missed 20 games following a shoulder injury.
5. February 2023 suffered an upper body injury.
6. April 2022 missed 13 games after suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee.
7. October 2021 suffered a shoulder injury.
8. January 2020 upper-body injury.
Similar injuries for Hughes
Hughes has been injured a lot but it seems to be the same injuries, mainly upper-body and shoulder injuries. As a hockey player, being unable to use his stick is a major issue. With these injuries, Hughes has yet to play a full 82 games going into this seventh NHL season.
Most of his injuries have been NHL related, but he has had some odd injuries, including his latest one that saw him slice his hand at a team function. Hughes has played 385 out of a possible 574 games. While he has missed a lot of time he has been productive when he has played, accumulating 151 goals and 220 assists for 371 points. However, he is a -32 in those games, insinuating he needs to work on his defensive game.
The Devils are struggling this season, posting a 16-12-1 record for 33 points and are in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division. Hughes is back to skating but without a stick. One has to wonder how effective he will be when he does return with putting pressure on his hand and stick. The Devils are also without the services of Evgenii Dadonov, who is expected to miss an extended period of time with an undisclosed injury,