It has not been a good time for the New Jersey Devils as things are not going as planned at the moment. The night of the 4th of March was another test for the squad, and to put it mildly, it ended in heartbreak. With only five seconds left in the third period, Thomas Harley decided to take a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle, which went through the defenders with the help of Mikael Granlund, who set a good screen. Boom—game over. The Devils were shocked at the end of the game as the Dallas Stars won 4-3 in a buzzer-beater at the American Airlines Center.

And get this—this was only their third game in March, and they’ve already racked up two losses. Yeah… not exactly the start they were hoping for this month. But if you think that the L itself was the problem, then you are wrong, there is one real storm cloud hanging over the heads of Devils fans. Jack Hughes is still out of action, and misfortune does not seem to cease to follow the team. The frustration is real, the worries are loud, and at this rate, the New Jersey Devils need a miracle (or at least a serious change of fortune) to turn things around.

New Jersey Devils face a tough time!

The New Jersey Devils took to X on March 5th, and let’s just say… the news they dropped hit fans like a slap shot to the soul. The team announced, “Jack Hughes underwent shoulder surgery earlier today and will be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Jack is expected to make a full recovery and be available for training camp.” Oof. That’s the kind of update no fan wants to wake up to. Hughes, the heart and soul of the Devils, sidelined for the long haul? Yeah, that one stings.

The moment the news hit, concerns started swirling like a puck on fresh ice—because let’s be real; without their star player, the road ahead just got a whole lot bumpier. And as if that wasn’t enough of a gut punch, the bad news just kept rolling in. One fan summed it up perfectly with, “That’s brutal,” and honestly? No lies detected. Because guess what? Jack Hughes isn’t the only one stuck on the sidelines.

B/R Open Ice added to the chaos, sharing on X, “Dougie Hamilton ‘sounds’ like he will be out week-to-week for the Devils, per @DarrenDreger.” So yeah, it’s not just a storm for the Devils right now—it’s a full-blown blizzard, and fans are just bracing for impact. But this was just the beginning!

Fans concerned about the Devils and their future!

Another fan jumped in, saying, “Huge loss for the Devils. Hughes was having an incredible season.” And honestly? No arguments there. That is why Jack Hughes is not just any player, he is the guy and the first overall pick in 2019. Before Wednesday, he was comfortably occupying the ninth position on the scoring list with 70 points, 27 goals, and 43 assists. And, of course, the 4 Nations Face-Off was no exception; he was an important part of Team USA.

Well, of course, the reactions did not stop there. One fan expressed the pain and said, “That is not what the Devils need right now… but I hope Jack is resting right now and has a speedy recovery.” And honestly? Same. The New Jersey Devils are already on a rough patch and now, without their star man, the storm only got worse.

Another fan couldn’t hold back, dropping a raw reaction with, “Holy shit. Truly so sorry for Devils fans this is horrible.” That about sums it up. But what was it that happened to Jack to lead to his injury? Here is the story–Hughes underwent what the team described as a successful surgery on his right shoulder in Vail, Colorado on Wednesday. But before that, there were many checks, serious discussions with his family, agent, and doctors to ensure that it was the right decision to take. Hughes suffered a brutal crash into the boards against the Golden Knights when he was entangled with Jack Eichel.

He left the ice clutching his right arm, and Devils’ coach Sheldon Keefe was furious over the non-call. So mad, that he was expelled from the field for protesting against the referees—then fined $25,000 for unprofessional behavior. And fans? They were not shy at all and one of them said, “That sucks. He is an electrifying player and the NHL is better when he is out there. But the Devils really need to think about axing their conditioning staff.” Harsh? Maybe. But when your star player is down bad, frustration is bound to spill over.

On the other hand, Dougie Hamilton had to leave the ice in the Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars after a collision with Mason Marchment behind the Devils’ net. The 31-year-old defenseman managed to skate off on his own, but yeah… he was definitely limping. He stuck around on the bench for the rest of the first period, but when the second rolled around? Nowhere to be seen.

At this point, Devils fans are just out here holding their heads in their hands, and one summed it up perfectly with, “At this point, it’s hard not to feel bad for the Devils.” Because seriously, how much more can this team take? Injuries, losses, and a whole lot of bad luck—being a Devils fan right now? Not for the weak.