New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes has undergone two season-ending shoulder injuries since being drafted first overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Hughes has already made history in New Jersey, breaking franchise records and quickly becoming the face of the organization.

After being drafted at 18 years old, he played 61 games in his rookie season, recording seven goals and 14 assists while averaging just under 16 minutes on the ice.

Hughes became the first Devil to score 40 goals in a season [2023] since 2008–09 and the fastest player in franchise history to reach 300 points. He’s been a standout for the team since the moment he stepped onto NHL ice.

In his second season, he posted 31 points in 56 games before COVID-19 cut the season short.

The 2021–22 season saw Hughes reach a career-high pace with 26 goals and 30 assists in just 49 games, before a hit from the Islanders’ Oliver Wahlstrom in April caused an MCL sprain that required surgery.

He bounced back in 2022–23, playing 78 games and tallying a career-best 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists). That year, he earned his second All-Star Game appearance.

In 2023–24, Hughes had 74 points in 62 games but missed about 20 games after a November shoulder injury when he crashed into the boards. The injury woes didn’t stop there.

During the 2024–25 season, Hughes was on pace for another stellar year when he suffered an upper-body injury. He returned to the lineup briefly but later announced he needed shoulder surgery, ending his season early once again. Before surgery, he had 74 points in 62 games.

Despite these setbacks, the 24-year-old has been a force for the Devils. As alternate captain, he’s played 368 games with the franchise. He became the youngest player in team history to record a hat trick and has helped lead the Devils to two playoff appearances, no small feat for a team that had only made the postseason once from 2013 to 2022.

Hughes is the power forward the Devils needed to spark their turnaround. With the team currently holding the eighth-best betting odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2025–26, his health could be the deciding factor in a deep playoff run.

For now, the question remains: can Jack Hughes stay out of the boards and keep his shoulders intact?

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images