A few days ago, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe informed reporters that the returns of Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce are on the horizon. Today, he revealed that both defensemen will join the team for their trip to Detroit.
The Devils are set to face the Red Wings on October 24 at Little Caesars Arena. “They will be traveling with us today,” Keefe mentioned. “We haven’t made a final decision yet. It’s reasonable to say that we might see them this weekend in one of the games, whether it’s in Detroit or against the (New York) Islanders. We’ll assess how they perform in today’s practice, see how they feel tomorrow, and then determine what’s best for them. With a busy schedule ahead, we need to ensure we’re managing their situation carefully and keeping an eye on their progress.” On September 12, the Devils announced that Hughes would be sidelined at the start of the season due to a shoulder injury, initially expected to take six to eight weeks.
The 21-year-old recorded 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) over 82 games last season and was nominated for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the top-performing rookie in the NHL. Pesce suffered a fractured fibula last season while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes and has been on the road to recovery. “Before we signed Brett, we were aware that he had undergone season-ending surgery with Carolina,” general manager Tom Fitzgerald stated in September.
He has made significant progress since arriving here. Our medical team has done an outstanding job with him. Everything looks promising. It’s just about getting comfortable with skating, improving agility, and developing those muscles.”
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