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Jack Hughes Injury Update: Will He Miss The Olympics?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Jan 31, 2026 11:27 AM ET

According to an update from New Jersey Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe, it’s too soon to know if Jack Hughes will miss the Winter Olympics based on his most recent injury setback. The dynamic forward was selected for Team USA, but injuries have been an issue this season, and he’s out again.

Keefe told the media this week, “The only update is that he’s still getting evaluated. In the next little bit, he’s going to get some imaging and get a better idea of what’s happening. Until we have those results we won’t know his status in terms of travel and the situation going forward.”

Pierre LeBrun added, “At this point, no one involved seems worried it might affect Hughes’ Olympic availability. Sounds more day-to-day. But obviously, this is close to Milan, so it’s noteworthy.”

Hughes tried to return to play against the Nashville Predators but couldn’t, so it’s probably not a major injury like a torn ACL. It’s reasonable to assume it’s not a worst-case scenario. Hughes was on the ice for three shifts and 2 minutes and 27 seconds before exiting and Keefe said after the game that he thought Hughes “tweaked something” and it wasn’t expected to be a long-term issue.

That said, if they’re sending him for imaging, something is obviously bothering him. From there, it could be anything — maybe day-to-day, maybe week-to-week, or even a month or more. Right now, it’s all on the table.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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