Luke Hughes
This one might be something we’re not thinking of, but this one feels about as likely as Nemec. Luke Hughes went back to the University of Michigan despite the team going through a transition. Owen Power, Kent Johnson, and Matty Berniers are gone. Mel Pearson left the team in a shroud of controversy. The Wolverines are in a transition year, but Hughes gets to be a leader in the locker room.
Hughes is going to be on the Devils as long as he stays healthy. Heck, he might even join the Devils for a playoff run if they make it that far. He’s going back to college strictly because it’s what is best for his development. The Devils could have given him a shot to make the NHL roster, but there are complications that come with that. It was just cleaner to send him back to Michigan.
The former fourth-overall pick will finish his season sometime in March or early April if he makes it all the way to the Frozen Four again. That leaves a few games at the end of the season where he can make his NHL debut.
These aren’t as many big names as in previous seasons, and we highly doubt the Devils will hit eight debuts this season, but there are some future pieces making their debut this season.