Devils Sign Luke Hughes to a Seven-Year Contract
The New Jersey Devils and defenseman Luke Hughes agreed to a seven-year, $63 million contract.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (NHL Images).
Hughes, 22, will earn an average annual value of $9 million, tying him with fellow blueliner Dougie Hamilton for the highest AAV on the Devils. PuckPedia indicates that the deal also includes a 10-team no-trade list in the final two years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is getting a substantial raise. He’s coming off his entry-level contract with an AAV of $925K.
A skilled puck-moving defenseman, Hughes was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2023-24. He’s missed most of their training camp and could struggle through the early weeks of this season as he tries to get back into game shape.
Nevertheless, the Devils see him as their future No.1 blueliner. If he does well in that role, his annual cap hit could turn into a bargain over the long term.
Hughes’ new contract pushes the Devils above the $95.5 million salary cap by over $3.9 million. In the short term, they can offset that by placing sidelined defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and his $4 million AAV on long-term injury reserve to start the season. Forward Stefen Noesen ($2.75 million) could also end up on LTIR.
Kovacevic and Noesen aren’t expected to be out for the season. That means the Devils will have to free up cap room when they return.
At the end of the season Quinn will be next
Hamilton to Detroit, if he will allow it, for Berggren, a 3rd and Carter Gylander
Let’s hope Hughes can play 80 games at least once over the term if that deal .
He’s been in the league 2 full seasons and played 82 in the first and 71 in the second.
Thank you Kelly. It’s nice to see people post correct figures not something that lives only in their head.
Sign Hutson now. Same deal.
A little rich but that’s the cost of doing business in today’s NHL. You pay for potential and long term security.
Hopefully they are able to move Palat and keep Hamilton, who I anticipate will have a big year.
Ron, people just assume that since Jack is injury-prone that Luke must be as well. This just isn’t the case, he missed games last year due to an off-ice injury before camp even started. Then ran full speed into the crossbar in the playoffs.