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Fitzgerald Confident Luke Hughes Contract Will Get Done as Camp Nears

Talks hinge on term, with Hughes favoring five years over the team’s longer or bridge options.

Apr 13, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) skates with the puck against the New York Islanders during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Overview

  • General manager Tom Fitzgerald told RG.com's James Murphy that the “11th hour is training camp” and said both sides are working toward a quick resolution.
  • Hughes is a 21-year-old restricted free agent coming off his entry-level deal and is not eligible for an offer sheet.
  • NJ.com reporting, cited by Spector’s Hockey, says the Devils explored an eight-year extension or a two-year bridge, while Hughes’ camp prefers a five-year term that would run through 2030 alongside Jack Hughes’ timeline.
  • Fitzgerald indicated both parties want to avoid a holdout or a repeat of Dawson Mercer’s negotiation that extended past the start of camp last year.
  • Coverage notes camp is approaching and Hughes is projected for top-pair minutes, increasing urgency, with some analysis pointing to cap planning as a factor in finalizing terms.