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The New Jersey Devils are going to enjoy the services of Jack Hughes today. The star player had a shoulder injury last year that required surgery, but he's back in the lineup for today's season opener in Prague. He is listed on the first line with Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt.
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The NHL is beginning its regular season a little earlier for the International Series. Hughes and the Devils had to end their preseason at an earlier date than other teams to play this series and have time to go back home and acclimate.
It meant a little less recovery time for ailing players like Hughes, but it appears that he's good to go and will be active tonight vs. the Buffalo Sabres. This is the first of two games set to be played in Prague, and it doesn't look like one of the three NHL 25 cover stars will be off the ice for injury purposes.
Jack Hughes anticipates bounce-back year
If the New Jersey Devils are going to get off on the right foot, it begins today. Coming off a disappointing 2023-24 season, star Jack Hughes believes his team is due for a much better year this time around.
Via NHL, he said:
"Last year was definitely frustrating; people expected us to be much better. I think it's just another opportunity for our group to grow and really take another stride and get back to where we were and give ourselves a chance to play really good hockey to start the season and carry that on as we go."
The center said his team was "brutal" last year, but that they are into the new season and not looking back and stewing on what happened:
"I don't think you can forget about any season and especially when a lot of people expected us to be a playoff team for good after we made the playoffs. But we took a step back. That means we'll be a hungrier group, more focused, going into the season.”
The Devils changed coaches, but the players will need to perform better in 2024 if they're to reverse the sting of last season.
