New Jersey Devils defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce are expected to make their season debuts against the host Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

Hughes, 21, injured his left shoulder last month in offseason training and was expected to be out six to eight weeks.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely been a long time coming,” Hughes said Thursday. “And really excited for tonight and get back into the rhythm of things.”

Pesce, 29, had signed a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million annual average) as a free agent on July 1. He was recovering from offseason surgery after fracturing his fibula in the playoffs last season with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Yeah, just excitement,” Pesce said Thursday. “I haven’t felt these nerves for a while for … it feels like it’s my first game. Just exciting for myself and new team … I’m ready to go to battle with the boys.”

Hughes posted 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) in 82 games in 2023-24, making the All-Rookie Team and finishing third in the voting for the Calder Trophy.

Drafted No. 4 overall in 2021, Hughes made his NHL debut in 2022-23 and tallied one goal and one assist in two games.

Pesce had spent his entire NHL career with the Hurricanes, who selected him in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft. In nine seasons starting in 2015-16, he had 39 goals and 159 assists with a plus-92 rating in 627 regular-season games, along with five goals and 16 assists in 57 playoff games.

Last season, Pesce recorded three goals and 10 assists in 70 regular-season games, and one assist in two postseason contests.

–Field Level Media