Devils center Jack Hughes exits with lower-body injury - ESPN
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes left the team's game against Nashville in the first period and did not return at the start of the second.
www.espn.comHere’s the latest I can confirm about Jack Hughes based on recent reporting:
- As of late January 2026, Hughes was listed as day-to-day with a lower-body issue after missing a few games, with coaches optimistic he’d return soon. This suggests a relatively minor issue rather than a long-term injury at that time.[3]
- Earlier in the 2024–25 season, Hughes underwent finger surgery after a freak hand injury at a team function in Chicago, with an eight-week recovery window and a six-week recheck. This was a significant event for that season but occurred prior to the 2025–26 window.[1]
- In April 2026 coverage, NHL and team outlets continued to track his status, with regular updates typical of a star player who has had past injury trouble and is monitored closely by the Devils and Team USA.[5][6]
If you’d like, I can pull the very latest local reports (e.g., Devils game recaps or team press releases) and summarize the current status with dates and expected return timelines. I can also set up a quick digest of ongoing patterns (types of injuries, recovery times, and typical return-to-play timelines) to help you gauge future updates.