WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey Devils leading scorer Jack Hughes is expected to be out two months after undergoing surgery to repair a finger injury.
The team announced Saturday that Hughes had the operation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Hughes' expected return-to-play timeline is eight weeks, and he'll be reevaluated at the six-week mark.
It was not clear which finger or which hand Hughes had surgery on.
Hughes injured his hand Thursday night and did not travel with the Devils to Washington, where they are set to face the Capitals on Saturday night. In a statement, they called it a non-hockey-related injury.
The 24-year-old center is one of the biggest reasons for the Devils’ strong start to the season. He has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points to put them atop the Eastern Conference.
Hughes missed the final six weeks of last season and the playoffs after crashing right shoulder-first into the boards. He underwent surgery not long after.
His long-term absence puts Hughes' status for the U.S. Olympic team in doubt, as he is not expected to play before the Dec. 31 roster deadline. Hughes has been considered nearly a lock to make it and could be on the initial roster and replaced if needed.
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New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) takes the final shot in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — As celebrations kicked off marking the first anniversary on Monday of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad’s regime, Syrians are still struggling to heal after the dynasty’s repressive 50-year rule and a 14-year civil war that killed an estimated half-million people, displaced millions more and left the country battered and divided.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A boy handles a weapon at the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
People celebrate and wave Syrian flags as they wait for a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Syrian men wearing anonymous masks flash victory signs, as they stand on top of their car with its front window covered by an Islamic flag, during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A Syrian man silhouetted by a digital billboard showing the date of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime during celebrations marking the first anniversary, in Damascus , Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Arabic words read: "A history retold and a bond renewed." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A girl sits on a machine gun as visitors tour the "Syrian Revolution Military Exhibition," which opened last week ahead of the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Riot police stand in formation ahead of a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrians celebrate the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
A Syrian man fires fireworks during celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Syrians shout slogans and wave flags outside the Umayyad Mosque before a prayer held ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
Wanted portraits of former Syrian president Bashar Assad are displayed in the window of a coffeeshop, in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as Syrians celebrate marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Two boys walk down a street carrying Syrian flags in the war-damaged Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, ahead of celebrations marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
