Luke Hughes, a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, returned to practice after an injury sustained on January 19th. Although he has been out of the lineup for eight games, he is eligible to return on February 28th due to NHL LTIR rules, which require a player to miss at least 10 games and 24 days. Hughes has already met the 24-day requirement but must sit out two more games. The Devils are currently 11 points behind playoff positions with a 2.4% chance of making the playoffs, according to Moneypuck. Meanwhile, Devils Olympians Jack Hughes and Simon Nemec are competing in the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics, with a chance to medal. The team has used the Olympic break for mini training camps to prepare for the final stretch of the season. The Devils also recalled several players from Utica, including Lenni Hämeenaho, Dennis Cholowski, Colton White, and Jakub Malek. Trade rumors include potential moves for defenseman Justin Faulk and updates on Sidney Crosby's injury status. Overall, the team is focusing on maximizing practice time and getting ready for the critical upcoming games.