It was a very unfortunate team dinner for the New Jersey Devils.

Devils star forward Jack Hughes will be out eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery on his finger for an injury he suffered when he cut his hand at a team dinner on Thursday night, the team announced Saturday.

Hughes will be re-evaluated at the six-week mark.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the news of the injury on Friday, with multiple sources calling it a “freak accident.”

Hughes was off to a fantastic start, with 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games for the 12-4-1 Devils, who lead the Metropolitan Division. He had two assists during Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime victory in Chicago, one of the best games played in the NHL this season.

More to come.

See Full Page