Devils Sign Luke Hughes to a Seven-Year Contract

by | Oct 1, 2025

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.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

How will Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract affect the free-agent market? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KAPRIZOV’S NEW CONTRACT WILL BE FELT IN THIS SUMMER’S UFA MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston doesn’t believe Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract with the Minnesota Wild will have any effect on Connor McDavid’s negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you missed it, Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Wild. The average annual value is $17 million, and comes with a full no-movement clause throughout.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Johnston believes McDavid isn’t seeking an eight-year deal. If he and the Oilers reach an agreement, it’ll be on a shorter term of two, three, or four years. The Oilers also need some cap flexibility to maintain a winning roster around McDavid.

Pierre LeBrun agrees with Johnston, but noted that Kaprizov’s new deal will affect other players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They include Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas.

Darren Dreger adds Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor to that list. He reports the two sides continue to negotiate, but it has to be a deal that makes sense for both sides.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski believes Kaprizov’s contract leaves McDavid with a tough decision to make.

Does he accept a short-term deal and watch his salary increase with the cap, knowing the injury risks? Or does he take the security of an eight-year deal with a guaranteed $144 million if he pursues the maximum AAV of $20.8 million?

Assuming McDavid agrees to slightly less on his AAV of around $18 million, it still bites deeply into the Oilers’ salary-cap payroll, making it difficult for them to maintain a Stanley Cup contender.

Tychkowski’s colleague, Jim Matheson, doesn’t see McDavid agreeing to the same AAV as Kirill Kaprizov. He believes the Oilers captain could give his club a discount of $18 million annually for two or three years.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t believe the Oilers can afford to go higher than $17 million annually for McDavid, partly because of the expensive contracts of teammates Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV) and Evan Bouchard ($10.5 million). McDavid also wants tangible proof that the Oilers intend to maintain a winning roster over the next several years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he thinks the AAV on McDavid’s next contract will be much lower than people think. How much lower, and for how long, remains to be seen.

If McDavid seeks top dollar, there are only a handful of teams with the cap space who can also be considered Stanley Cup contenders. They are the Dallas Stars (depending on what happens with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley) and New York Rangers (if they can regain their 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy form).

McDavid could join the Toronto Maple Leafs with the intention of leading them to the Stanley Cup. However, that signing would maintain their status as a team top-heavy with star forwards lacking the necessary depth to go deep in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning could be another destination, but McDavid would have a short window with them to win the Cup with their aging roster.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell weighed in on how Kaprizov’s contract might affect Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights.

She cited insiders like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, TSN’s Chris Johnston, and Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli speculating that Eichel’s AAV on his next deal will be between $13 million and $14 million.

That’s a lot of money, but it would only be between 12.5 and 13.46 percent of the $104 million salary cap for 2026-27. Eichel could seek $15 million, and the Golden Knights would probably pay him, but Kirkell believes he’ll come in at around $13.5 million.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli was asked how the Kaprizov contract will affect Martin Necas’ negotiation with the Colorado Avalanche.

Seravalli dismissed rumors suggesting Necas won’t re-sign with Colorado. He believes that Kaprizov’s new deal will push Necas’ asking price higher than the Avalanche would be comfortable with, especially if he has another point-per-game season. His asking price could be north of $10 million annually.

THE LATEST ON THE OILERS

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell wonders if the Edmonton Oilers will make a trade before the regular season begins.

Goaltending depth, the third line right-wing position, and the third-line center position are areas of concern this season.

Mitchell suggested Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth as trade options, pointing out the latter might make sense now that he’s cleared waivers and is in the minors. Free-agent center Evgeny Kuznetsov hopes to return to the NHL, but the Oilers aren’t believed to be linked to him.

Possible trade bait for the Oilers includes defenseman Ty Emberson or Troy Stecher.

SPORTSNET’s Mark Spector believes Chicago Blackhawks winger Lukas Reichel could draw interest from the Oilers. GM Stan Bowman drafted him in Chicago, and the Oilers need to get younger. Spector suggests a fresh start with a new club might help Reichel get his career back on track.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli reported the Blackhawks’ asking price could be a mid-to-late-round draft pick. The Oilers have two fifth-rounders in the 2027 draft.

PREDATORS RISK LOSING ANOTHER YOUNG FORWARD

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty believes the Nashville Predators’ contract standoff with RFA winger Luke Evangelista is a bad look for the franchise.

The two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement. A short-term contract is more likely, but they remain divided on salary.

Evangelista trends as a middle-six forward who can average a steady 15-20 goals per season. Daugherty believes the Predators aren’t in any position to treat young, offensive forwards with such hesitancy, given their lack of depth in their pipeline and among those who are NHL-ready.

Daugherty fears that Evangelista could follow the path of former Predators forwards like Kevin Fiala, Eeli Tolvanen, and Philip Tomasino, who moved on via trades or waivers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2025

The latest on Jason Robertson’s contract extension talks with the Stars, the Wild’s Mats Zuccarello and the Canucks’ Nils Hoglander will miss time due to injuries, Max Pacioretty officially retires, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars and winger Jason Robertson have decided to take a “wait-and-see” approach in contract extension talks as a new season opens.

Robertson, 26, is in the final season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. He’s eligible to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July, and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if his next contract is awarded via arbitration.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

The plan is for Robertson to play the entire season with the Stars, and then the two sides will revisit their contract discussions after that.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson surfaced as a trade candidate after the Stars were eliminated from the 2025 Western Conference Final. Some teams reportedly inquired about his availability, but general manager Jim Nill said he never intended to move him.

THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE: Wild winger Mats Zuccarello will miss at least the next seven to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a lower-body injury that sidelined him throughout training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Head coach John Hynes told reporters that Zuccarello’s ailment was a back injury. The 38-year-old winger usually skated on the Wild’s top line, so his absence will be felt during the opening weeks of the regular season.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander will be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks following ankle surgery.

NHL.COM: Max Pacioretty has officially retired after 17 NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has joined the University of Michigan as a special assistant to the head coach.

Pacioretty, 37, had six 30-plus goal seasons and finished with 335 goals and 346 assists for 681 points in 939 regular-season games, and 28 goals and 58 points in 89 playoff contests. In 2011-12, he was the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pacioretty spent 10 of his 17 seasons with the Canadiens and was their team captain from 2015-16 to 2017-18. Traded to the Golden Knights in Sept. 2018, the Canadiens received a future captain in Nick Suzuki as part of the return.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Jets forwards Jonathan Toews and Vladislav Namestnikov left Tuesday’s preseason 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild with undisclosed injuries. Head coach Scott Arniel said Toews “tweaked something” and will be reevaluated when the club returns to Winnipeg. There was no postgame update about Namestnikov’s status.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck played in this game after leaving practice with an undisclosed ailment on Monday. Arniel said he will play in the final game of the preseason on Friday against the Calgary Flames.

DAILY FACEOFF: Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators combined for 152 penalty minutes as the Canadiens blanked the Senators 5-0 during their preseason game in Quebec City on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was a rough game, prompting speculation that both teams could sit their best players during their next preseason game on Saturday.

Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov left the game in the third period after being slashed on his right wrist by Senators forward Nick Cousins, but Habs head coach Martin St. Louis doesn’t think Demidov was seriously hurt.

Twenty-two players were placed on waivers on Tuesday. Carolina Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost and Calgary Flames forward Dryden Hunt were among the players hitting the waiver wire.










Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Extension

by | Sep 30, 2025

Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Extension

The Minnesota Wild and winger Kirill Kaprizov have agreed to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

It’s a record-setting contract, making the 28-year-old Kaprizov the NHL’s highest-paid player with an average annual value of $17 million.

PuckPedia indicated that Kaprizov has a full no-movement clause throughout the contract, which begins in 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This shouldn’t be surprising. The Wild had no intention of losing their franchise player and the most exciting forward they’ve ever had.

Losing Kaprizov to free agency next summer, or being forced to move him at the March trade deadline if unable to re-sign him by then, would’ve been a huge setback to their hopes of becoming a Stanley Cup contender.

A proven scorer, Kaprizov tallied a career-best 47 goals and 61 assists for 108 points in 2021-22, which is the Wild single-season record. He also tallied 46 goals and 96 points in 2023-24.

Kaprizov’s injury history is a concern, missing 25 games in 2022-23 and 41 games last season. He’ll be 29 when this extension begins, and it’s unlikely this contract will age well during its latter four years.

Nevertheless, when healthy, Kaprizov is the engine that drives the Wild’s offense. Without him, their path toward Stanley Cup contention would be a more difficult one.

It will be interesting to see how Kaprizov’s new contract affects the free-agent market. It’s unlikely that he’ll be the highest-paid player for long, as that honor could go to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, regardless of where he ends up on July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 30, 2025

by | Sep 30, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 30, 2025

The latest on the Panthers, an update on Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov, the Blackhawks are shopping winger Lukas Reichel, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Florida Panthers will have ample salary-cap flexibility once they place sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on long-term injury reserve to start this season. He expects they’ll look at every option to replace Barkov between now and the March 6 trade deadline.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).

Barkov underwent knee surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for seven to nine months. The earliest he could return to action is late April.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito is known for his aggressive moves. “You do your projections, and so that just continues,” Zito said. “And if there’s something that we think makes us better as a team, we’ll do it. And if not, we don’t. It’s really no different.”

If Barkov returns sooner than expected, the new postseason salary cap means the Panthers can’t use up his entire $10 million cap hit and then bring him back after the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zito and his staff understand they won’t find anyone available who can suitably replace a leader and three-time Selke Trophy winner like Barkov. Nevertheless, they have a proven record over the last five years for making acquisitions that bolster their club. Even with the new postseason cap constraints, they could land someone who helps their chances for a Stanley Cup three-peat.

UPDATE ON BLUE JACKETS FORWARD YEGOR CHINAKHOV

THE ATHLETIC’s Aaron Portzline reported on “X” that Yegor Chinakhov skated on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ fourth line the last two days, and he hadn’t been part of their power-play practices.

The 24-year-old forward refused to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, head coach Dean Evason said they are still evaluating their forward line, noting that Chinakhov worked hard and did the right things during his three preseason games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chinakhov requested a trade through his agent in July, citing “misunderstandings” with Evason. He seemed happy with how things were going with the club after speaking with Evason on the eve of training camp, but he hasn’t rescinded his request.

BLACKHAWKS SHOPPING LUKAS REICHEL

THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers reports the Chicago Blackhawks explored trading Lukas Reichel during the offseason. In the last few days, they’ve let teams know that the 23-year-old winger is available.

Powers believes it’s anyone’s guess where Reichel starts this season. He could be traded, claimed off waivers by another club, demoted to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, or start the season on their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks chose Reichel in the first round (17th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was expected to become a scoring winger, but has struggled to meet expectations. With younger players already in the lineup and others within the Blackhawks’ prospect pool pushing for NHL jobs, Reichel could be running out of time to establish himself.

Earlier this month, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reichel believed that he was going to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers at one point during this summer. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes they could move the young forward, who might welcome the change.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said there will be teams looking at the waiver wire for goaltending depth.

Friedman observed that Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Clay Stevenson of the Washington Capitals could hit the waiver wire this week. He said he’s “really curious” to see if they pass through waivers or get traded beforehand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DiPietro is expected to be the starting goalie for the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, while Stevenson is supposed to fill the starter’s job for the Capitals’ AHL team in Hershey. Neither player is waiver-exempt this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2025

by | Sep 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2025

Rangers captain J.T. Miller injured in practice, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck leaves practice and teammate Dylan Samberg is sidelined for weeks, an update on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers captain J.T. Miller left practice on Monday after suffering a non-contact injury. He appeared to strain either a groin or a hamstring attempting to shoot a puck out of the zone while falling to his knees.

New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller (NHL Images).

It’s believed Miller’s injury is a minor one, and he could return to practice on Tuesday. If not, he’ll be listed as day-to-day.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears the injury looked worse than it was. Miller was hunched over in pain when he left the ice. We should learn more about his status later today.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck cut short practice on Monday and left the ice. “He didn’t feel quite right, so he just came off,” said head coach Scott Arniel, who didn’t provide any further update on Hellebuyck’s status.

Meanwhile, Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg suffered a broken wrist during Saturday’s preseason game against the Calgary Flames. He’s expected to miss six to eight weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck’s situation doesn’t appear to be serious. However, losing a top-four defenseman like Samberg for almost two months is a significant blow to the Jets’ blueline to start the season.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to return to practice on Tuesday. He’s been sidelined since Sept. 19 for what the club called “player management”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Vasilevskiy was dealing with an ailment or injury that the team didn’t want to disclose because they don’t want opponents to know the details.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury originally disclosed on Friday. Blueliner Bowen Byram is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury suffered during Saturday’s preseason contest with the Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samuelsson has been frequently injured since his full-time NHL debut in 2022-23. He appeared in 55 games this season, 41 games in 2023-24, and 62 games last season.

LEAFS NATION: Nick Alberga reports Max Pacioretty could be set to retire despite interest from multiple NHL clubs. The 36-year-old winger is working with the University of Michigan.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No official word from the Pacioretty camp regarding his plans. He’d hoped to return with the Maple Leafs after last season, but it appears they are now overstocked at forward.

Pacioretty scored 30-plus goals six times in his 17-season NHL career, but spent the past four seasons battling injuries, including a twice-torn Achilles tendon.

If Pacioretty is retiring, he will finish his NHL career with 335 goals and 346 assists for 681 points in 939 regular-season games with the Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, and Carolina Hurricanes.

CBS SPORTS: Anaheim Ducks starting goalie Lukas Dostal is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: 22 NHL players were placed on waivers on Monday. They include such notables as Minnesota Wild forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Carolina Hurricanes forward Skyler Brind’Amour, and Winnipeg Jets forward Phillip Di Giuseppe.

Meanwhile, former NHL enforcer Donald Brashear is returning to hockey at age 53. He is set to suit up with the Corner Brook Royals of the Central Western Senior Hockey League in Newfoundland.