Jack Hughes returns for NJ Devils vs. Sharks after 17-game absence

NEWARK — The declaration is one that Devils fans have been waiting for since the second game of the season.

"Jack's ready to go," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said following the morning skate Tuesday. "He will play tonight."

Devils star center Jack Hughes returned to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Sharks after missing 17 games with a dislocated shoulder he suffered in the first period of the team's game against the Kraken on Oct. 19.

Hughes' return comes exactly six weeks since the injury and a few days prior to his expected return date after he was given a five-week timetable on Oct. 29.

"It's obviously extremely exciting," Hughes said. "It's been a long time so I've missed a lot of games and I'm excited to get back out there and start at home and play in front of our fans, that'll be a lot of fun. I've had this date circled on my calendar, so I think I probably got in a little sooner than people thought."

Hughes' addition figures to be a boon for the Devils' offense, which ranks 17th in the NHL in scoring per game.

On opening night against the Blackhawks, the 20-year-old former No. 1 pick scored a pair of goals including the overtime winner in a 4-3 win. Last season, he was second on the team in scoring with 31 points on 11 goals and 20 assists.

"He's a very important piece on our team with his puck possession, his playmaking ability and speed he adds to the team," Ruff said. "We've missed that part. It's great to get him back and I know he's excited and we're all excited to have him back."

In Hughes' absence, the Devils remained competitive in the Eastern Conference. They entered Tuesday night's game with a 9-6-4 record and on the fringe of the wild card picture.

The fact that the team was able to stay afloat without two of their top leading scorers, including Miles Wood who is out indefinitely following hip surgery, should help Hughes ease back into the lineup without feeling too much pressure to produce immediately.

"We’ve been playing great as a team," Hughes said. "I’m not coming in trying to change the world. I think everyone knows my role, but I’ve just got to come in and do my job. We’ve been playing great, so maybe just give us a little boost. That’s really all I am is another piece to the puzzle."

Ruff said that he had a conversation with Hughes about five or six days prior to him being cleared to play but the team wanted to make sure that his mind and body were ready to return in the practice rink.

"There’s just a lot of things that are annoying," Hughes said. "You have to stay in game shape for a month almost and you know you’re not playing for a while. The assault bike, I won’t look at that thing for while.

"At the end of the day, my whole life is hockey, hockey, hockey, so I’m sitting there and the boys are gearing up for a game and I have to go watch. It’s different and it just makes you appreciate the game."

The emergence of rookie Dawson Mercer has been one of the positives to come with having to fill the void left by Hughes in the opening month. Mercer has 14 points on six goals and eight assists in the opening 19 games.

Hughes will add more elite skating ability and speed in the attacking zone. Ruff also hopes that he can help the Devils dig out of their recent dry spell on the power play where they are 29th in the league (12.7) with his quickness and ability to escape small spaces.

Hughes may see time on the wing, free him of some of his faceoff responsibilities.

And the return of No. 86 is just one more cog that the Devils hope will make it easier to reach their goal of reaching the playoffs.

"First, we want Jack to play his game. He knows what his game is," Ruff said. "We want the guys around him to support his game and realize it’s his first game back too.

"There’s a lot of factors that go into playing that first game back and being ready and the work he’s put in. To win a hockey game, it takes a lot of pieces going in the right direction, not just one."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jack Hughes returns from injury for NJ Devils vs. Sharks