Jack Hughes made his return to the New Jersey Devils' lineup after missing 18 games due to finger surgery, scoring a goal in a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on December 21, 2025. The 24-year-old center's comeback is expected to boost the team's offensive production as they vie for a higher spot in the Metropolitan Division. Without Hughes, the Devils struggled, posting an 8-10-0 record.
The New Jersey Devils faced a setback in Jack Hughes' return game, falling 3-1 to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Hughes, sidelined since November 12 after requiring finger surgery from a freak accident at a team dinner, logged 20:57 of ice time and notched his 11th goal of the season, bringing his totals to 11 goals and 21 points in 18 games played.
During Hughes' absence, the Devils went 8-10-0, ranking fifth-last in points percentage and being outscored 55-41 over those 18 contests. This left New Jersey averaging just 2.75 goals per game, the sixth-fewest in the NHL, while their 3.00 goals-against average ranked 14th league-wide.
Currently, the Devils sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division and hold the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, one point behind the New York Islanders and two points back of the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. With Hughes back—a player who ranks 10th in the NHL in points per game at 1.20 since the 2022-23 season—New Jersey is poised to challenge the Carolina Hurricanes for the division lead.
Hughes has faced injury challenges throughout his seven-year career, playing a full season only in the shortened 2020-21 campaign and exceeding 62 games just once in his first six seasons. His return addresses a key gap in the Devils' offensive blueprint, potentially elevating them beyond the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12.
