Hughes (5-foot-10, 168 pounds), a forward who is an A rated skater in NHL Central Scouting's Players to Watch list, did not play in an 8-2 win against Kazakhstan on Friday. The U.S. and Sweden are tied for first place in Group B after each won its first two games in regulation.
U.S. coach Mike Hastings said Hughes won't be rushed back into the lineup.
"I feel good where it's at and we're just trying to make sure we're doing the right things and he's getting better every day," he said. "He's progressing every day and we're trying to make sure that we'll have him as healthy as he can be when we need him to be, but (Saturday's) not that day.
"He's progressing and in real good spirits. We'll continue to do what we're doing."
Hastings denied rumors that Hughes may have sustained an injury in a 6-2 pretournament game against Czech Republic on Dec. 22, or in a 2-1 win against Slovakia in the WJC opener on Wednesday.
Hughes has 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) and 114 shots on goal in 25 games for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team this season.
Hastings confirmed that goalie Kyle Keyser (Boston Bruins) will make his second start. He made 13 saves in a 2-1 win against Slovakia.
Sweden has won 46 straight preliminary-round games at the WJC. Its last loss was 3-2 in overtime against the United States on Dec. 31, 2006.
