Dec 21, 2025
3 min read
New Jersey's starting center missed 18 games due to a "major accident."
NEWARK, NJ - Jack Hughes returns from a finger injury for the New Jersey Devils against the Buffalo Sabers on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG-B) at the Prudential Center.
Hughes, who has missed 18 games, made a surprise appearance at the morning skate and later confirmed he would return to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 12.The senior center from New Jersey had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 17 games before it was announced Nov. 15 that Hughes had surgery for what was described as a non-hockey.He was expected to miss two months.
"It was definitely fun to be on the ice and practice, so it was a good start for me," Hughes said.
"It was just a crisis, so I'm glad it's not like a season ending or anything like that. It was good news for what I got. So now I'm glad to be back and I feel good."
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe doesn't think there will be any restrictions on his star position.
"The only challenge would be the fact that he hasn't played (in a while) and he hasn't practiced with our group," Keefe said."Needless, he wouldn't be playing if he wasn't good to go. I was surprised like anyone, honestly, that he came so fast to the point that even [Saturday] he went on the ice and skated with himself just to see him and have a feeling for exactly where he is.
"He's very confident and easy and I've been pleased with what I've seen, he's in a good place and we're excited to have him."
In addition to Hughes, the Devils (20-14-1) will bring Timo Meier and Arseny Gritsyuk to the lineup.With Hughes and Gritsyuk activated from injured reserve, New Jersey reassigned Nathan Legare to Utica of the American Hockey League.
Meyer, who has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 30 games, will play after missing five personal reasons due to a family issue.Griciuk returns after missing four games with an upper-body injury;He has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 31 games.
"It's obviously a good sight," Devils captain Nico Hischier said."We're very happy to have them back, but our mentality can still change. We're talking about guys coming into the lineup, and at the same time, they've got to be like everybody else. I know they know that.
"I know they know what they're doing and they can add to our team, so we're really excited to have them and we're excited to get here."
New Jersey (20-14-1) enters its fifth Sunday in the Metropolitan Division, 8-10-0 without Hughes.
"I mean, our team has held on and we're still in a good spot, so there's going to be a lot of hockey to be played," Hughes said."We're not the only team dealing with injuries; I think every team in the League has a lot of injuries right now. It was great to get (defender Brett) Pesce back (on December 17 after missing 24 games due to injury).
"That's how the league works, right? Teams get injured and lose players and other guys have to step up, so our group did a good job."
