The New Jersey Devils have announced that defenseman Luke Hughes will be sidelined to undergo a medical procedure, marking the start of his rehabilitation process. The specifics of the procedure have not been disclosed. Earlier this season, Hughes sustained an upper-body injury after a hit from Justin Kirkland of the Calgary Flames, which led him to be placed on long-term injured reserve. He opted for rehabilitation instead of surgery at that time and returned to play a total of 68 games, where he recorded six goals and 35 points. The 22-year-old defenseman signed a significant seven-year, $63 million contract extension prior to this season. Unfortunately for the Devils, they have been eliminated from playoff contention, making Hughes' recovery a priority for the upcoming season.