Luke Hughes Back on the Ice in Practice — When He Can Return to the Devils Lineup

luke hughes was back on the ice as the Devils resumed work after an extended Olympic break, but he remains on Long Term Injury Reserve and is not eligible to return to game action before the Feb. 28 trip to St. Louis. The defenseman skated with the group in a limited capacity, and coaches described the session as a first step in a controlled ramp-up.

Luke Hughes back at practice: what the session revealed

Luke Hughes was first on the ice when the club opened practice following the break. The skate was described as a skating-and-passing day, with the coaching staff monitoring his recovery and progress. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said the sight of Hughes skating with the group was encouraging and emphasized that the team will continue to assess his condition as they ramp up activity ahead of the return to games.

LTIR status and the earliest return date

The club placed him on Long Term Injury Reserve retroactive to his injury date. Because of LTIR rules that set minimum missed-game and calendar-day requirements, luke hughes cannot appear in a game until after those thresholds are met. The calendar restrictions were not paused during the Olympic break, and the team has identified the Feb. 28 game in St. Louis as the earliest contest in which he would be eligible to return.

Practice ramp-up, roster moves and team context

With a full week between practice and the next game, the Devils are treating the sessions like a short training camp to get players back into game shape. The club recalled several players from the minor-league affiliate, including Lenni Hämeenaho, to replenish the daily roster during the stretch without Olympians.

The team will hold four more practice days before the season resumes. Several Devils are still competing in the Olympics and are currently through to the semifinal round: Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Simon Nemec. Sweden’s contingent, including Jesper Bratt and Jacob Markstrom, is matched up against the USA and Jack Hughes in the semifinals. In the meantime, players not in Milan are focusing on conditioning, touches and developing team structure during practice time.

Key facts at a glance

• Injury status: Shoulder injury sustained on Jan. 19.
• Roster designation: Placed on Long Term Injury Reserve retroactive to the injury date.
• Practice status: Skated with the group in a skating-and-passing session; first on the ice at the practice resumption.
• Earliest eligible return: Feb. 28 (road game at St. Louis) due to LTIR game/day requirements.
• Team ramp-up: Four more practice days scheduled before games resume; club recalled players from Utica, including Lenni Hämeenaho.

luke hughes’ presence on the ice gives the club and fans a clearer picture of his current condition, but the team will continue to evaluate his readiness through the remaining practice days before clearing him for game action. Details may evolve as the Devils progress through the ramp-up and as Olympians return from international play.