Fresh reports reveal what really happened in Jack Hughes’ bizarre injury incident for the Devils

As the New Jersey Devils and Team USA grapple with the aftermath of Jack Hughes’ freak injury during a team dinner, the exact circumstances have remained unclear — until now.

Many fans were left wondering: how does a player even get hurt at dinner?

During the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shed light on the situation, saying several sources told him that Hughes was injured after slipping and falling, resulting in a cut from broken glass.

“I’ve heard it from multiple places — Hughes slipped and fell and cut himself on some glass,” Friedman explained.

Friedman added that, despite the scare, both the Devils and Team USA view the eight-week recovery timeline as positive news. Hughes is expected to return in January for New Jersey and be fully prepared for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.

The Devils later released a statement confirming that Hughes underwent successful finger surgery performed by Dr. Robert Hotchkiss at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The forward will be re-evaluated in six weeks, with his full return expected around eight weeks.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe also explained that the team spoke to others who were at the dinner — players and staff — and were convinced that the accident was just an unfortunate incident that “could have happened to anyone.”

Despite this, the organization has not offered many additional details publicly.

Before the injury, Hughes was having a standout start to the season, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 games. In his absence, Dawson Mercer is expected to move up the lineup, though further roster adjustments may still be considered.