The final rounds of Men’s Ice Hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin this weekend, culminating in the championship match on Sunday morning (local time). Representing the New Jersey Devils, Jack Hughes and Simon Nemec will compete in the semifinals on Friday, aiming for a shot at the gold medal. Meanwhile, back in Newark, their teammate Luke Hughes has returned to practice after recovering from an injury.
Luke Hughes, who suffered an upper-body injury during a game against the Calgary Flames on January 19, missed the subsequent eight games leading up to the Olympic break. His presence on the ice during Wednesday’s practice is seen as a positive sign by head coach Sheldon Keefe. “It’s encouraging to see him [on the ice]. He was exciting to get back with the group. Luke’s put in some extra work over this break, and our hope is that he can ramp up as we ramp up,” Keefe stated.
Luke was placed on long-term injured reserve, which requires a player to miss at least ten NHL games and 24 calendar days before they can return. Although the Olympic break counted towards the 24-day requirement, he still must sit out two more games. Consequently, the earliest he can rejoin the lineup is on February 28, when the Devils face off against the St. Louis Blues.
Looking forward, the Devils have 25 games left in the 2025-26 schedule, with Luke eligible to play in 23 of these contests. However, the team’s current position is precarious, sitting 11 points behind playoff contenders New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. According to Moneypuck, the Devils’ hope of making it to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stands at a slim 2.4%.
Despite these challenges, the return of Luke Hughes bolsters the Devils’ lineup as they attempt to push through the remaining games of the season. His involvement could provide the necessary energy to not only uplift the team’s performance but also reignite their playoff aspirations.