Superstar centre Jack Hughes will be back in the lineup on Sunday for the New Jersey Devils after missing the past 18 games with a hand injury.
Jack IS back tonight!
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 21, 2025
Source: literally Jack Hughes. pic.twitter.com/yvJoYmkHme
“Yeah, I’m going to play tonight and just ease my way back in,” Hughes told reporters following Sunday morning’s practice session.
Hughes, 24, has been out of the lineup since Nov. 12, when he tallied two assists in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The injury reportedly occurred at dinner the night after the victory over the Blackhawks, and the team announced the following day that he had successful surgery on the injury and would be re-evaluated in six weeks.
Just five weeks later, Hughes was back on the ice with the team.
In 17 games this season, the native of Orlando has 10 goals and 20 points. He has averaged more than a point per game in each of the past four seasons and has 151 goals and 371 points in 385 career NHL games played with the Devils since being selected with the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
The Devils will take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have won five games in a row, on Sunday night.
