The 2024-25 New Jersey Devils season wrapped up with both promise and frustration. While the team returned to the playoffs, they didn’t last long—bounced in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, with the offseason officially underway, attention shifts to the front office, where General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has major decisions to make, none more important than locking up Luke Hughes.
As we look ahead, there’s no bigger priority than securing the future of the youngest Hughes brother, a dynamic, top-pairing defenseman who is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the Devils’ rebuild. Let’s dive into where things stand with Hughes and why a long-term deal makes the most sense for New Jersey.
Who is Luke Hughes?
Drafted 4th overall in 2021, Luke Hughes came to New Jersey with big expectations and an even bigger last name. But he’s done more than live up to the hype—he’s carved out a reputation of his own.
The 6’2” blueliner spent two standout years at the University of Michigan, piling up 87 points in 80 games and leading the Wolverines to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances. He joined the Devils at the end of the 2022-23 season, burning the first year of his entry-level contract and making an immediate impact—including an overtime winner in just his second NHL game.
Since then, he’s played two full seasons, becoming a staple on New Jersey’s blue line and one of the top young defensemen in the league.
Luke’s NHL Resume So Far
In his rookie season (2023-24), Hughes scored 9 goals and added 38 assists, playing all 82 games and averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per night. He finished third in Calder Trophy voting, trailing only Connor Bedard and Brock Faber. And he did it while the team around him crumbled due to injuries and poor goaltending.
This past season, Hughes picked up right where he left off—despite a preseason shoulder injury that delayed his debut until late October. In 71 games, he recorded 44 points (7 goals, 37 assists) while continuing to quarterback the Devils’ top power play unit. He also took notable strides in his defensive play, showing improved positioning and smarter reads, particularly alongside partner Brett Pesce.
Unfortunately, his postseason ended as soon as it started. Hughes suffered another shoulder injury in Game 1 against Carolina and missed the rest of the series. He’s since undergone surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp.
The Case for a Long-Term Contract
Let’s be blunt: Hughes is a star in the making. His skating is elite, his vision is exceptional, and his ability to transition play and drive offense from the back end is already near the top tier in the NHL.
Yes, there are some areas to improve—his shot can develop further, and he isn’t a physical presence—but his defensive awareness and stick work have grown by leaps and bounds. He’s a modern defenseman through and through, and at just 22 years old, he has only scratched the surface of his potential.
Given his trajectory, now is the time for New Jersey to invest. Players like Hughes don’t grow on trees, and early long-term deals often turn into some of the most team-friendly contracts in the league by the time a player hits their prime.
Comparable Contracts & Market Value
There’s a growing trend around the league: young, high-upside defensemen are signing eight-year extensions coming out of their entry-level deals. We’ve seen it with Brock Faber (8 years, $8.5M AAV), Moritz Seider (7 years, $8.55M), Owen Power (7 years, $8.35M), and Jake Sanderson (8 years, $8.05M). All of them—like Hughes—are viewed as long-term core pieces.
So what’s Luke worth? Projections vary. AFP Analytics pegs a six-year deal at around $8.39M AAV, or a three-year bridge deal at $5.75M AAV. But based on comps, the smart play is clear: go long-term and bet on the player.
If we’re talking fair value and future upside, an 8-year deal worth somewhere between $8.6M to $8.75M annually feels right—and likely to age well as the salary cap continues to rise.
Cap Crunch Considerations
Here’s the rub: the Devils have just over $12 million in cap space, and signing Hughes to a long-term deal would eat up a large chunk of that. But this isn’t a time to get frugal.
Teams run into cap trouble by overpaying aging depth players—not by signing their franchise cornerstones. If New Jersey wants to stay competitive and build around a young core, it may be time to offload contracts that no longer make sense (think: Ondrej Palat or Erik Haula). Clearing that dead weight is essential to reshaping the roster.
The Elephant in the Room: The Hughes Brothers
You can’t talk about Luke without at least acknowledging the possibility of a Hughes family reunion.
Jack Hughes is already a star in New Jersey, signed through 2030. Quinn is locked in with Vancouver through 2027, but there’s long been speculation that the three brothers could eventually unite on one roster. GM Jim Rutherford even flirted with tampering this spring by publicly discussing it.
Does that mean Luke signs a shorter-term deal to keep his options open? Maybe. But history suggests otherwise. Agent Pat Brisson—who represents all three brothers—has a track record of securing max-term deals for his clients, including Jack.
Still, the idea that Luke could align his contract with Jack’s is something the Devils must consider, even if it complicates things.
Final Thoughts: Lock Him In Now
If the Devils are serious about becoming a perennial contender, signing Luke Hughes to a long-term extension must be at the top of Tom Fitzgerald’s offseason checklist. Hughes is already playing 20+ minutes a night, running the top power play, and pushing play at both ends of the ice. His ceiling? Think Norris-caliber.
And yes, the salary cap matters. But when it comes to elite young talent, this is where you spend your money. Eight years. $8.6M per season. Get it done.
Let the other teams worry about patching holes. The Devils already have their future on the blue line—they just need to lock it in.
Explore New Jersey will continue tracking every major offseason storyline, including Luke Hughes’s contract negotiations, trade rumors, and how the Devils plan to take the next step forward. Stay tuned.