Jack Hughes Signs Extension with New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes joined the ice with his teammates this morning without a non-contract jersey on for the first time since suffering a dislocated shoulder injury back on October 19.
Then head coach Lindy Ruff announced he would play tonight versus the San Jose Sharks.
Then Hughes signed an eight-year, $64 million contract extension to stay with the New Jersey Devils – the team that drafted him #1 overall in the 2019 NHL draft.
Starting next season, Hughes will earn an AAV of $8 million through the ’29-’30 NHL season. It’s a front-loaded contract that will see him be paid as follows:
- ’22-’23: $9m (includes $2m signing bonus)
- ’23-’24: $8.5m
- ’24-’25: $8.5m
- ’25-’26: $8.5m
- ’26-’27: $8m
- ’27-’28: $7.5m
- ’28-’29: $7m
- ’29-’30: $7m
The Devils currently have nearly $11 million of salary cap flexibility. Locking up Hughes, who the Devils and their fans believe will be a superstar in the league very soon, was a top priority heading into the season.
Jack Hughes has accumulated 20 goals and 35 assists in 119 career games in the NHL. The NHL world expected ’21-’22 to be his coming out party, and he wowed us with an electric game winner on opening night and seemed to be everywhere in game two versus the Seattle Kraken. It was then where Hughes was injured, halting his three 1.5 points per game pace. After missing 17 games, Hughes hopes to play in each of the remaining 63.
“It’s been a long time, so I’ve missed a lot of games. I’m excited to get back out there and to start at home and playing for our fans, that’s going to be a lot of fun. I had this date circled on the calendar, so I think I probably got in a little sooner than people thought so I’m really excited to play tonight.”
Hughes via TSN.ca
Though the numbers don’t jump out from the page just yet, the Devils are willing to pay him for what he will become – much like the Nico Hischier extension they handed out last year. As a 20-year-old, Hughes has some of the best metrics for takeaways and puck carrying/possession in the league, while Hischier is proving to be one of the top two-way centers. The two first-overall picks will be a vital 1-2 punch down the middle of the New Jersey lineup for years now.
The Devils were able to hold their own without their best offensive talent and currently hold a 9-6-4 record. They are right in the mix for a playoff spot, but the battle within the Metropolitan division will be a tough one. Having Jack Hughes back will only help their chances for, not just this season, but many more to come to come.
Hughes quote via TSN.ca.
Read the New Jersey Devils ’21-’22 season preview here.
Read the Week 6 Devils recap here.
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