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Hughes is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a left shoulder injury but will not require surgery, the club announced Thursday.
Even on the short end of his injury timeline, Hughes figures to miss the opening 10 games of the season at a minimum, making him a strong candidate to start the campaign on long-term injured reserve. The 21-year-old blueliner avoided injury as a rookie last year, featuring in all 82 regular-season contests in which he tallied nine goals and 38 helpers, including 25 power-play points. With Hughes out of action for the start of the season, Dougie Hamilton will almost certainly move up to the No. 1 power-play unit while Jakub Zboril, who comes into camp on a PTO, could earn his way into a full-time deal.
