The first-overall pick was injured in the first period.
ST. LOUIS, M.O. -- With 11 minutes remaining in the opening frame of the New Jersey Devils-St. Louis Blues game, Jack Hughes crashed hard into the boards.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound center was still down on the ice when a trainer reached him. Hughes skated to the bench on his own and remained there while the staff looked him over. When it was time for his line to jump back onto the ice, he joined them for a 59-second shift, and there was a collective sigh of relief.
Shortly after that, though, he went down the tunnel, and ahead of the third period, the team announced he would not return.
"It takes the wind out of your sails a little bit," said Curtis Lazar to MSG host Erika Wachter at the second intermission.
New Jersey surrendered the game's first two goals to St. Louis in the middle frame but got within one courtesy of Lazar with 3:21 left in the period. The Devils' comeback effort ultimately fell short as the Blues added two empty net goals in the third period for a 4-1 victory.
After the game, head coach Lindy Ruff said, "(Hughes) will be evaluated tomorrow (and) we'll see where we're at."
The team will be off Saturday after completing a back-to-back, meaning fans will most likely need to wait until Sunday for any additional updates.
In St. Louis, Hughes played 3:55 and was credited with one shot on goal. Entering Friday night's game, the 22-year-old's 20 points were the most in the league. Per NHL PR, "Hughes became the third player in the past 25 years with 20 points before his 10th game of a season, following Leon Draisaitl (20 in 2021-22) and Mario Lemieux (20 in 2002-03).
New Jersey is also without forwards Nico Hischier and Tomas Nosek, who play the center position as well. The Devils' next game will be Sunday, Nov. 5, when they visit Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.