The New Jersey Devils are playing a dangerous game of chicken with one of their brightest young stars, defenseman Luke Hughes. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald is in a staredown with the Hughes camp, and the outcome of this contract negotiation will have a significant ripple effect on the team’s future. The Devils are at a crossroads, and how they navigate this situation will define their success for years to come.
The crux of the issue lies in the term of the contract. Hughes, in a savvy move to align his future with his brother Jack’s, is reportedly pushing for a five-year deal. This would walk him right to unrestricted free agency in 2030, giving him maximum leverage and the ability to control his own destiny.
On the other hand, the Devils, like any team in the salary cap era, want cost certainty and control. They’re pushing for either a three-year “bridge” deal or a max-term, eight-year contract. A bridge deal would keep his cap hit low in the short term, while an eight-year deal would lock him up through his prime at a potentially team-friendly rate down the line.
Breaking Down the Cap Complications for the Devils
Here’s where it gets tricky for the Devils. With just over $6.1 million in cap space, they’re in a tight spot. Even if they sign Hughes to the projected three-year, $5.786 million AAV deal, they’ll have to make a roster move. Sending down a young defenseman like Seamus Casey or Simon Nemec would free up some space, but it’s a temporary fix. If Hughes’ camp gets their way with a longer-term deal, say the projected six-year, $8.386 million AAV, the Devils will have to get creative.
This is why we’re hearing names like Ondrej Palat and Dougie Hamilton in the trade rumor mill. A move of that magnitude is a clear indication of the pressure Fitzgerald is under to not only sign Hughes but also to keep his team cap compliant. The temporary LTIR placement of Jonathan Kovacevic is a band-aid solution at best. The clock is ticking, and the Devils need to decide if they’re willing to pay up to keep their star defenseman, or risk a protracted and potentially damaging holdout.
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The post The Luke Hughes Contract Standoff: A High-Stakes Game for the New Jersey Devils appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
