Saturday: As expected, the contract is now official with the Devils announcing that Hughes has signed his entry-level deal. The contract will begin this season. CapFriendly reports the deal will carry an AAV of $1.85MM with bonuses and breaks down as follows:
2022-23: $925K base salary (including signing bonus)
2023-24: $925K base salary (including signing bonus), $925K Class ’A’ bonuses
2024-25: $925K base salary (including signing bonus), $1MM Class ’A’ bonuses, $850K Class ’B’ bonuses
PuckPedia clarifies that since Hughes didn’t sign until after the 2022 draft, he’s eligible for the elevated ’A’ bonuses in the final year instead of being capped at $925K throughout.
Friday: New Jersey Devils fans have been eagerly waiting for top defense prospect Luke Hughes to make his NHL debut. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the wait could soon be over, as the 19-year-old defenseman is set to join the team this weekend in Boston. While it’s unclear when exactly he’ll sign his entry-level contract and play for the team, Friedman notes he’ll be given time to acclimate to the NHL environment.
Hughes was the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and is considered one of the top prospects in the league. He’s spent the last two seasons with the University of Michigan, where he’s broken college scoring records and demonstrated excellent skating ability and offensive IQ. With Michigan’s season coming to a close in the semifinals of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament last night at the hands of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, though, Hughes will turn pro in the coming days. At 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, Hughes has the size to compete at the NHL level, even before his 20th birthday.
The Devils have finally broken out this season, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference and headed straight for a first-round matchup against the New York Rangers. Part of that, however, is due to an already solid group of defensemen, including Dougie Hamilton, Damon Severson, and Ryan Graves. While it doesn’t seem like there may be a massive opportunity for Hughes to step into the lineup right away, the team’s weak link may be on their third defense pairing, with either Brendan Smith or Kevin Bahl typically occupying a spot alongside Severson. When Hughes eventually makes his Devils debut, that’s likely where the left-shot defender will slot in.
It’s important to temper expectations, however. Hughes has yet to get a taste of professional hockey and will be thrown straight into the competitive environment of a top NHL team pushing to make a deep playoff run. The Devils won’t throw a potential franchise cornerstone into the fire before he’s ready. Still, even with limited minutes, this time could benefit Hughes’ development and improve his chances of playing a more impactful full-time role in 2023-24.
The Devils have a solid recent history of helping young talent hit their potential, with four main scoring threats (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer) being drafted and developed talents under the age of 25. If the same can be achieved with Hughes, who registered 10 goals and 48 points in 39 games during his sophomore campaign at Michigan, the team is bound to have one of the most well-constructed rosters in the league for years to come.
Does this use a year of his rookie deal?
He hasn’t signed a contract yet, just accompanying the team on their trip. If he does, it will burn the first year of his ELC, regardless of how many games he plays, yes.
No 9 game max and a slide? WHY?
You know… I may have been wrong on that. I was thinking of Makar as an example, he was still 19 on September 15 before the season he signed his ELC, but he turned 20 before the new year, which made him ineligible to slide when he signed his deal at the end of 2018-19.
It’s rare we see a player this young sign a deal out of college at the end of the season. Let me see if I can find an example.
Okay, looks like I was right the first time. Power only played eight games on his ELC last season after signing, and his contract didn’t slide. I’d assume it has something to do with signing so late in the season.
“A player who signs an entry-level contract at age 19, and then turns 20 before Dec 31 of that year is not slide eligible.”
Hughes will turn 20 in Sept.
To wrap up the above discussion, appears Hughes won’t be eligible for an entry-level slide because he signed his ELC in the calendar year 2023, not 2022. Since he’ll be 20 on September 15, 2023, he’s not eligible for the slide.
Thanks Josh for wading through the murky contractual language.
Was looking forward to a Minnesota vs Michigan final on Saturday, but those pesky Bobcats ruined things again. NHL teams should really be looking at Rand Pecknold to fill a head coaching vacancy.
Devils vs Stars for the Cup final. I’m calling it right here! :)