Senators $99.9 Million Key Player Jack Hughes Shut Off Seasons, Due To Shoulder Surgery…

The New Jersey Devils’ late-season playoff hopes will take a hit, but it’s in the best interests of Jack Hughes to shut down his season. 

A couple of hours before the Devils were to start a home-and-home series with the Maple Leafs in Newark on Tuesday, the club announced their leading scorer would undergo season ending shoulder surgery. The injury came during Jersey’s 3-2 shootout loss to Nashville on Sunday, when left winger Hughes clocked more than 22 minutes in ice time. 

“In recent conversations with Jack, his family, representatives and athlete care staff it was determined that Jack should be held out of game action for the rest of this season and proceed with surgery (Wednesday),” the release from the team stated, adding “he is expected to make a full recovery (for training camp).” 

Hughes, one half of the team’s brother act with defenceman Luke, is the team’s goal leader with 27 and second in points with 74 to Jesper Bratt’s 79. Hughes missed 11 games because of an upper body injury earlier this season, and the Devils won just four times in his absence. 

They came into their game Tuesday with 79 points, behind five teams jammed up for wildcard and Metropolitan Division playoff berths. 

Canucks’ Sam Lafferty on J.T. Miller’s chirping, playoff pedigree, Sidney Crosby

It comes with the territory of measured minutes, career uncertainty, and knowing they skate a fine line of being valuable or vulnerable — especially if they don’t adhere to the grinder’s mantra.

The must be physical on the forecheck, frustrate elite players, defend with determination, not allow goals, and not take penalties. If they score, it’s a bonus.

It’s an NHL version of the “Survivor” reality TV series.

Sam Lafferty has had cups of coffee in the top-six mix, but he knows where his bread is buttered.

The versatile Vancouver Canucks forward has taken shifts with Elias Pettersson this season, but in reality, he’s a fourth-liner, who has been on six different combinations as a right-wing staple.

His career road is one paved with the angst of being traded twice and the anticipation of what awaits in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“Everyone has a bit of a different path to get here,” Lafferty said Tuesday. “You have to be able to adapt and take what you get and make the most of it. It’s been quite a journey and it’s been a lot of fun.

“It’s been awesome this year to have this much success, and it’s the best time of year. We’re all very excited.”

Playoffs define careers. Bottom-six players often make big strides because star players struggle to find time and space as every shift becomes crucial.

For Lafferty, who logged nine post-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season before being traded here in October, making the right impression is imperative.

He is one of nine unrestricted free agents on the current roster, and at age 29, his $1.150-million US salary cap hit is a fit now.

Lafferty is third among club forwards in hits, and sixth in blocks. He has 23 points (12-11) and a game that seems suited to the bump-and-grind of the second season.

“In the playoffs against Florida last year, he was one of the better Leafs,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “He was on the forecheck against a team that’s aggressive.

“That’s the sort of stuff we need Lafferty to do. It’s a chance for him to be that winger who can do that and also play centre.”

He wants me to make sure I’m always reliable and to know what he’s going to get from me. And he’s quick to reward you if you’re playing well. He wants to communicate and his door is always open.

A. It’s definitely entertaining. He hasn’t chirped me with something that’s memorable, it’s all just great. It’s all in good fun. He’s just such an intense and competitive guy and, honestly, you just love having him on your side.

His motor is always running and he drives our team in so many ways. It’s been a privilege to sit beside him and learn. His advice is simple stuff. What I really respect is he doesn’t change his game.

He puts up 100 points and plays hard and the right way every night. It’s what I really admire about him.

It’s knowing what to expected. I had to make adjustments in my game and that really helped and we progressed into the second round (4-1 series loss to Florida). I can take a lot of confidence from that.

It’s knowing about the pressure and knowing that’s when it gets more fun. And that you can perform under those situations.

As for the Canucks, we’re built for this time of year. We play hard and we want to be hard to play against. And when we’re at our best, we’re very good.

He’s so down to earth and grounded and has so much respect for the game and everyone involved. He’s having another great season (40 goals) and he’s willing his team into the playoffs. It’s pretty impressive.