Devils Notebook: luke hughes Back on Ice at Practice, Return Blocked by LTIR Until Feb. 28 (ET)
Luke Hughes skated with the New Jersey Devils during a Wednesday morning skills session as the club returned from an extended Olympic layoff, offering a boost to the defense corps even as roster rules prevent him from rejoining games until Feb. 28 (ET). Head coach Sheldon Keefe described the sight as encouraging, while the team uses the break to sharpen conditioning and structure ahead of the season’s final stretch.
What unfolded at practice
First on the ice, Hughes took part in a skate focused on skating and passing. He remained with the group for the full on-ice session, taking warmups and stationary work rather than full-contact drills. Keefe, watching from above, noted that Hughes "looks good" and that the day was meant to get the young defenseman moving without rushing the ramp-up process. The session functioned as a mini-training camp: with a full week before the Devils return to game action, coaches emphasized getting players’ bodies and timing back to game speed.
Several non-Olympians joined the practice group, and the club also made a handful of recalls from their AHL affiliate to shore up depth for the next week of work. While the team awaits the return of its Olympians, practice focus has skewed toward conditioning, skill work and tactical tuning — areas Keefe said he used the break to diagnose and correct trends that have hindered the team this season.
LTIR timeline, roster implications and next steps
Despite skating and positive signs in drills, Hughes remains on Long Term Injury Reserve with the LTIR dating back to his Jan. 19 shoulder injury. That status renders him ineligible for game action until the Devils’ Feb. 28 contest in St. Louis (ET), which establishes a firm earliest date for a return. The team plans to monitor Hughes closely as practices progress and will step up his participation as appropriate, but the LTIR placement fixes the earliest possible game day even if he progresses faster on the ice.
Keefe stressed patience: the initial sessions are about "getting the rust off" and building toward heavier workload days. Players not involved in international duty appreciate the chance to re-establish timing and touches ahead of upcoming games; veteran forward Connor Brown highlighted conditioning and skill maintenance as priorities during the break. For Hughes specifically, the extra practice days present a chance to re-familiarize himself with contact-free aspects of his game before progressing to competitive drills.
Outlook for the final stretch
The timeline gives the Devils a structured window to reintegrate Hughes into practices and eventually games without forcing an early comeback that could risk re-injury. With several Olympians still active internationally, the club is leaning on non-Olympic players and recent recalls to preserve continuity in training and systems work. Keefe described his Olympic break as less of a vacation and more of a reset: time spent with family but also with video study to address what hasn’t worked this season and to prepare the team for a stronger second half.
When Hughes is eligible on Feb. 28 (ET), the organization will evaluate his readiness for game action based on a graduated return in practice and the medical staff’s assessments. For now, his presence on the ice is a welcome sign — a reminder that the defenseman is trending in the right direction — but formal game availability remains governed by the LTIR timeline.
Practices continue through the week as coaches and players use the break to tighten execution and conditioning. The next few days should reveal how quickly Hughes can be safely ramped up and what role he might play once he is cleared to resume NHL competition.
