New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes suffered a hand injury during a team dinner in Chicago on Thursday night. The injury, described as a fluke accident where he slipped and cut his hand, will sideline him for at least the upcoming game against the Washington Capitals. Hughes, who leads the team with 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games, is being evaluated with more details expected soon.
The New Jersey Devils received concerning news ahead of their Saturday matchup when center Jack Hughes was reported to have injured his hand at a team dinner the previous evening. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, Hughes "suffered a hand injury while at a team dinner Thursday night." Multiple sources described the incident as a "fluke accident," with Hughes believed to have slipped and cut his hand. NJ.com's Ryan Novozinsky added on X that a source emphasized it was "an accident" and a "freak thing."
The Devils organization stated that Hughes is "being evaluated" and they will "provide an update as available." He is not expected to play against the Washington Capitals on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, MSGSN), though the exact timeline for his return remains unknown. This comes at a challenging time for the Devils, who have already lost 83 man-games to injuries this season despite maintaining a strong 12-4-1 record and leading the Metropolitan Division.
Hughes has been a standout performer, leading the team with 10 goals and 20 points through 17 games. In their most recent game, a 4-3 overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, he recorded two assists. The injury adds to an already lengthy list of sidelined players, including Johnathan Kovacevic, Evgenii Dadonov, Connor Brown, Cody Glass, Zack MacEwen, Brett Pesce, and Dougie Hamilton.
Fortunately for New Jersey, their schedule lightens after Saturday's game, with only two contests in the next seven days. The team has shown resilience amid the injury woes, but Hughes' absence will test their depth further as the 2025-26 season progresses.