Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Metro Notes: Brunicke, Murashov, Ginning

at CDT | by 3 Comments

One of the emerging storylines coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp has been the exceptional preseason performance of young defenseman Harrison Brunicke. The 19-year-old defenseman has drawn rave reviews for his play both in training camp and in preseason games, and that praise has come both from the media as well as people within the Penguins organization. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported today that “there is an appetite around the organization” for the Penguins to keep Brunicke on their season-opening NHL roster. Yohe also commented that “some people in the organization” are telling Yohe that Brunicke is “already the Penguins’ best defenseman.”

That’s high praise considering the Penguins blueline currently features three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and veteran Kris Letang, who was among the NHL’s top blueliners for more than a decade. Brunicke is a 6’3, 202-pound defenseman who was a second-round pick in 2024 out of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Widely praised for his poise and mature, pro-ready game, Brunicke is not eligible to be loaned to the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, and therefore the organization will need to decide whether the player is best served spending 2025-26 back in the WHL or in the NHL. It’s not an easy decision – and some clubs have in the past taken the more complicated route of using AHL conditioning stints to buy time until the player can be sent to the World Junior Championships – but based on Yohe’s reporting it appears the Penguins are likely to give the young defender a chance to start his NHL career.

Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:

  • If Brunicke is the young Penguins player who has attracted the most buzz this preseason, netminder Sergei Murashov isn’t far behind him in second place. The 21-year-old 2022 fourth-round pick has been excellent in his preseason minutes and is coming off of a stellar debut season in the North American pro circuit. Yohe reports that the Penguins’ plan for Murashov is to give him “the bulk of the work in the AHL this season,” and noted that while the Penguins believe he could be a future number-one goalie, “they don’t want to impact his development” by bringing him to the NHL too fast. The Penguins have Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs set to form their tandem in net this season, so there is not an immediate need for Murashov at the NHL level. But based on everything he’s shown since arriving from Russia to the Penguins organization, he could become a legitimate factor in the team’s NHL plans as soon as next season.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have had a few positive storylines in preseason – namely the emerging chemistry between star sophomore Matvei Michkov and prized offseason addition Trevor Zegras – the competition for down-the-lineup defensive roles has not generated such positive buzz. Per The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet “hasn’t been overly encouraged” by the performances of the team’s depth blueliners – namely Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, and Noah Juulsen. Grans was placed on waivers yesterday and is not expected to factor into the team’s opening-night roster. While Ginning and Juulsen have left Tocchet wanting more this preseason, Kurz notes that the two could currently have a leg up in the battle for limited roster spots. According to Kurz, Emil Andrae “may simply be too small for the coaching staff’s liking” to dress in their opening-night lineup, while Egor Zamula “struggled mightily” in Monday’s preseason game and could be losing his grip on a lineup spot. As a result, a big opportunity could lie ahead for Ginning, who got into just one NHL game last season but played in a top-four role in the AHL.

West Notes: Dunn, Walman, Avalanche Recalls

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn is currently being evaluated for an injury and is considered out at this time on a day-to-day recovery timeline, per Kraken head coach Lane Lambert. (via team reporter/analyst Alison Lukan) Dunn did not practice today after suffering an injury in the team’s preseason contest yesterday against the Calgary Flames. At this moment, whether Dunn will be ready for the team’s season-opening game on October 9th is unclear.

Dunn, 28, is one of Seattle’s most important players. The blueliner led the team in time-on-ice per game in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, before this past summer’s signing of defender Brandon Montour. He also ranks second in points scored for the franchise all-time. Should Dunn end up missing regular-season time during this injury, his spot in the team’s lineup is likely to be taken by depth defenseman Josh Mahura. Alongside Dunn, Lambert also issued updates on the status of injured Kraken forwards Jared McCann and Chandler Stephenson, saying each is “progressing in the right direction.”

Additional notes from the Western Conference:

  • Edmonton Sports Talk’s Tom Gazzola relayed word from Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch that injured defenseman Jake Walman is expected to be ready in time for the club’s season opener on October 8th, but added that he will not play in tomorrow’s preseason game against Seattle and is unlikely to play in Friday’s game as well. Walman was sidelined with a day-to-day injury last week, and appears to now be nearing a return to the ice, though he’s not quite there yet. The 29-year-old is entering a crucial contract season and could position himself to receive a lucrative next contract should he find a way to replicate his form from 2024-25, when he posted 40 points in 65 games.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have recalled five players from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles: defensemen Ronnie Attard and Alex Gagne, and forwards Tye Felhaber, Jason Polin, and T.J. Tynan. Four of five players (everyone but Gagne) in that group cleared waivers on Sunday, and now appear to have been recalled for the purpose of skating in, at the very least, the team’s preseason contest tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. Tynan is the most notable veteran name of the crop as the two-time AHL MVP is expected to play a massive role for the Eagles.

Maple Leafs Sign Anthony Stolarz To Four-Year Extension

at CDT | by 14 Comments

Sep. 29: Stolarz’s contract includes a 16-team no-trade clause that applies not only to the first year of his extension in 2026-27 but will retroactively apply to the last year of his current contract, giving him new protection for the 2025-26 campaign, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. That list will downgrade to a 10-team NTC from 2027-29 and further to a five-team NTC in 2029-30. PuckPedia has the full cash breakdown of the deal:

2026-27: $850K base salary + $4.225MM signing bonus = $5.075MM total
2027-28: $900K base salary + $2.91MM signing bonus = $3.81MM total
2028-29: $1.07MM base salary + $2MM signing bonus = $3.07MM total
2029-30: $1.045MM base salary + $2MM signing bonus = $3.045MM total

Sep. 28: It was previously reported that Anthony Stolarz and the Toronto Maple Leafs were getting very close to an extension, and now ESPN’s Kevin Weekes and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston have reported that the two parties have come to an agreement on a four-year, $3.75MM AAV contract extension. According to Weekes, the contract is “largely signing bonus money” although no firm breakdown has been reported at this time. The Maple Leafs have now officially announced the contract.

Two days ago, it was reported that Stolarz and his camp, led by RSG Hockey’s Allain Roy, were eyeing recent contracts signed by Karel Vejmelka and Kevin Lankinen as potential comparables – deals that each carry a five-year term and an AAV of at least $4.5MM. The contract reported today isn’t quite as lucrative as those deals, although the fact that it is, per Weekes, heavy in signing bonuses does help bridge the gap.

The path to this contract has been an odd one for Stolarz, who appears to have emerged as a starting-caliber netminder at the age of 31. Five years ago, Stolarz was an AHL starter in the Anaheim Ducks organization, and he established himself as an NHL backup there. He signed with the Florida Panthers for 2023-24 to be Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup, and ended up putting forth a brilliant .925 save percentage and 2.03 goals-against average in 27 games.

That performance in Florida, which ended with Stolarz watching from the bench as the Panthers won their first-ever Stanley Cup championship, earned the netminder a two-year, $2.5MM AAV deal to join the Maple Leafs in a tandem with Joseph Woll. Although Woll started more games in 2024-25, Stolarz was the superior of the two netminders, playing to an excellent .926 save percentage and 21-8-3 record across 34 games.

While he hasn’t been tested in a heavy workload just yet, Stolarz has posted some of the league’s best numbers across the last two seasons. While it’s no easy task to sustain such brilliance across a heavier diet of starts, Stolarz certainly has the talent to do it. If he can end up taking a larger role in the crease in Toronto, perhaps playing something closer to a standard starting netminder’s number of games, he could easily provide an immense amount of surplus value to Toronto over the course of this contract.

The last time Stolarz played in more than 40 games was for the 2015-16 Lehigh Valley Phantoms – it’s been a while. So there is some risk to this contract, without question. But that level of risk is likely wholly acceptable to Toronto given Stolarz’s brilliance over the last two years, and the odds he provides them with surplus value appear to greatly outweigh the odds he underperforms this modest cap hit.

The key for the Maple Leafs will, unsurprisingly, be the playoffs: Stolarz led Toronto to a first-round victory over the Ottawa Senators, but an injury cost him the chance to compete in the second round. If he can find a way to be a reliable, go-to starter in playoff situations, this would be a home run of a contract for the Maple Leafs.

Photos courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Snapshots: Finnie, Girard, Klingberg

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Detroit Red Wings entered training camp looking to find the right left winger to skate on the team’s first line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. After four preseason games, an unexpected candidate appears to have emerged: 2023 seventh-round pick Emmitt Finnie. The 20-year-old winger has scored a goal and registered an assist this preseason, and has generated positive reports due to his performances in training camp.

Today, The Athletic’s Max Bultman wrote that Finnie is a legitimate contender to start the season on the Red Wings’ top line. Veteran James van Riemsdyk entered the preseason as the favorite for the role, but has missed all of camp attending to a family matter. Elmer Soderblom was a possibility, but did not make a big impact when given the chance to play with Larkin and Raymond. That leaves Finnie in line to begin the season in that role, which would be quite the way for him to start his full-time pro career. Finnie spent most of last season in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers, and scored five points in 13 games in a late-season cameo with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Other notes from across the NHL:

  • This morning, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told Guerilla Sports’ Jesse Montano that veteran defenseman Samuel Girard is nearing a return to the ice, albeit in a non-contact capacity. Girard is currently managing a lower-body injury, and Bednar said the target for the blueliner is to make a return in time for opening night. Girard was Colorado’s number-three defenseman by ice time last season, averaging 20:50 time-on-ice per game including time on both sides of special teams.
  • San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg returned to practice as a non-contact participant, and is nearing a return to full participation according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng. Klingberg has missed a portion of the last week of training camp recovering from an upper-body injury, but based on today’s reporting it appears his availability for the start of the regular season is not in question. Klingberg signed a one-year, $4MM contract in San Jose this past summer after skating in 19 playoff games for the Edmonton Oilers en route to a Western Conference title.

East Notes: Grebenkin, Norris, Mateychuk

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Philadelphia Flyers have quite a few talented young forwards vying for a limited number of available NHL roster spots this preseason, and one player who has reportedly taken a lead in the race for an NHL job is winger Nikita Grebenkin. The 22-year-old Russian winger is “the clubhouse favorite” to earn an NHL role at this stage of the preseason, according to PHLY Sports’ Charlie O’Connor.

Grebenkin scored in yesterday’s preseason loss to the Boston Bruins, and is reported to have had an impressive camp. Grebenkin arrived in the Flyers organization late last season as part of the team’s trade of Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 6’2, 220-pound winger scored 28 points in 50 AHL games last season and was recently ranked by Elite Prospects as the club’s 11th-best prospect. If he ends up claiming a spot on the team’s NHL roster, it could come at the expense of another young player vying for a role such as Alex Bump or Jett Luchanko.

Other notes from the Eastern Conference:

  • Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris appears to have a massive opportunity in front of him entering his first full campaign in Western New York, reports Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe. Norris, who was traded to Buffalo in 2023-24 in a deal that included 2019 seventh-overall pick Dylan Cozens, is currently centering the Sabres’ top line alongside Zach Benson and Tage Thompson, as well as skating with the team’s top power play and penalty-kill units. It appears Norris has the chance to become an all-situations number-one center for the Sabres, something that was not entirely possible with his former team, the Ottawa Senators, due to the presence of star Tim Stutzle. Norris, who has dealt with persistent injuries (namely a shoulder issue) so far in his NHL career, scored 21 goals and 35 points last season and has a career high of 35 goals and 55 points in 66 games from the 2021-22 season.
  • Team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk did a full skate with the team this morning, something Svoboda calls a “very good sign” given Mateychuk has been dealing with a groin injury this preseason. Mateychuk, 21, is one of the Blue Jackets’ top young players and is coming off of a season where he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team.

Waivers: 9/28/25

at CDT | by 3 Comments

With more and more cuts to training camp rosters being made, the waiver wire is becoming increasingly active. Today is another busy day on waivers as PuckPedia reports that 23 players have been waived. All of yesterday’s waived players have cleared.

Anaheim Ducks

F Jan Mysak

Buffalo Sabres

D Zac Jones
F Jake Leschyshyn

Columbus Blue Jackets

F Hudson Fasching
F Brendan Gaunce
F Mikael Pyyhtia

Chicago Blackahwks

F Dominic Toninato

Colorado Avalanche

D Ronnie Attard

Dallas Stars

D Kyle Capobianco
F Kole Lind
F Antonio Stranges

Montreal Canadiens

F Alex Belzile
D Nathan Clurman
F Lucas Condotta
D Marc Del Gaizo
F Sean Farrell

New Jersey Devils

F Ryan Schmelzer

St. Louis Blues

F Matt Luff
D Corey Schueneman

Tampa Bay Lightning

G Ryan Fanti
D Simon Lundmark
F Scott Sabourin
D Steven Santini

Today’s set of waived players is a more diverse mix, both with veteran players likely to play most of 2025-26 in the AHL and some younger players who have some NHL experience and still, theoretically, more room to grow. Jones, from Buffalo, appears to have lost a battle for an NHL job on the team’s blueline, but got into 46 NHL games for the New York Rangers last season and is still just 24 years old.

23-year-old Farrell, waived by Montreal, is a former top prospect who was, just a few years ago, ranked as the Canadiens’ second-best prospect by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler. The former USHL and NCAA star had a strong back half of his 2024-25 AHL season and had six points in four games at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but hasn’t found a way to land an NHL role yet in his two-year pro career.

Beyond those younger names, there are also notable veterans on today’s waiver wire. Fasching, waived by Columbus, played in at least 43 NHL games in each of the last three seasons. Del Gaizo, waived by Montreal, got into 46 games with the Nashville Predators last season. And Toninato, waived by Chicago, has almost 200 NHL games to his name, although he only registered five NHL GP in 2024-25.

Snapshots: Connor Extension, Knoblauch, Huska, Leskovar

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With so many headlines devoted to the looming unrestricted free agency of Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov, it can be easy to forget that another one of the game’s most lethal scoring wingers is also set to hit free agency next summer: Kyle Connor. Connor’s $7.14MM AAV deal expires at the end of the season, and Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman commented on the player’s contract status in an interview with RG Media’s James Murphy. While he acknowledged that he’s not directly involved in the negotiations, Chipman said that he does not envision Connor leaving Winnipeg. He added that he expects a contract to be agreed upon “sooner rather than later.”

AFP Analytics currently projects Connor’s next deal to be worth nearly $12MM annually, which would make him the highest-paid player in Winnipeg. Given how well he’s played thus far in his NHL career, it’d be hard to argue Connor isn’t worth $12MM annually (or more), especially since reports indicate Kaprizov could make as much as $16MM AAV on his next contract, if not more. Kaprizov is a superior player to Connor, of course, but Connor isn’t extraordinarily far behind. Connor led the Jets in scoring with 97 points last season, and he added 17 points in just 13 playoff games. He’s the offensive engine behind one of the league’s top regular-season juggernauts, and it’s crucial for the Jets’ competitive hopes that they find a way to retain his services beyond 2025-26.

Some other notes from around the NHL:

  • Insider Darren Dreger reported on TSN’s Insider Trading segment that Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch and Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska are both entering the final season of their current contracts, and while neither coach has a firm extension offer on the table, both coaches are names to watch entering 2025-26. Knoblauch has been nothing but a success in Edmonton, and although a Stanley Cup championship remains elusive, he’s still widely respected for guiding the team to back-to-back Western Conference titles. Huska hasn’t had the same level of success as Knoblauch, though he also doesn’t get to dress Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in his lineup on a nightly basis. While the third-year coach didn’t reach the playoffs in either of his first two seasons on the job, he oversaw a stellar rookie campaign from netminder Dustin Wolf and improved the team’s performance in 2024-25 compared to where it was in 2023-24.
  • The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported today that Minnesota Wild defenseman Stevie Leskovar injured his wrist during a training camp scrimmage, and as a result the start to his season with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, will be delayed as he recovers. The 21-year-old 2024 sixth-round pick signed an entry-level contract in March of this year and is set to begin his first professional campaign whenever he’s healthy once again. The 6’3, 216-pound blueliner was an alternate captain for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads last season and got a taste of pro action late in the year, playing in Iowa’s April 19th loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Injury Notes: Blackwood, Jensen, Garland, Aitcheson

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters today, including The Denver Gazette’s Evan Rawal, that starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood is currently progressing in his recovery from a lower-body injury but is questionable to play in the team’s season opener October 7th in Los Angeles. Blackwood is firmly entrenched as the Avalanche starter, a status the team confirmed last December when they signed him to a five-year, $5.25MM contract extension.

Blackwood played well to begin his time in Colorado, posting a .913 save percentage in 37 games, and an .892 in a tough seven-game first-round series loss to the Dallas Stars. Should Blackwood’s injury linger into the regular season, veteran Scott Wedgewood would slot in as the Avalanche’s starting goalie. Interestingly, if Blackwood misses the game in Los Angeles, this would become the second consecutive season in which Wedgewood has gotten the chance to start a season-opener due to injury – he played in the Nashville Predators’ 2024-25 opener due to an injury to starter Juuse Saros. Wedgewood, who is a pending UFA with a $1.5MM cap hit, posted a .917 save percentage in 19 games for the Avalanche after a mid-season trade.

Other injury updates from across the NHL:

  • TSN’s Claire Hanna relayed word from Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen today that Jensen is currently without a firm return timeline regarding his hip injury. Jensen said he feels he’d probably be able to handle playing if the season started tomorrow, but since he hasn’t tested himself in a game-like situation this preseason, it’s difficult to tell for sure. Jensen added that when it comes to his recovery, he’s looking to balance getting back as soon as possible with being able to “hit the ground running.” Jensen has a spot on the Senators’ second defensive pairing waiting for him whenever he is healthy, as the 35-year-old pending UFA is set to resume his pairing with Thomas Chabot.
  • Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote told the media today (including Rink Wide Vancouver’s Jeff Paterson) that winger Conor Garland will not play in the club’s preseason game tomorrow as he manages a minor injury. Foote clarified that the absence is more about maintaining Garland’s health in advance of the regular season than it is about recovery from anything serious, so it does not appear this preseason absence will in any way impact Garland’s readiness for the team’s season opener. The tenacious Garland is an integral middle-six piece for the Canucks and is coming off of a 19-goal, 50-point season.
  • New York Islanders 2025 first-round pick Kashawn Aitcheson had a bit of an injury scare in the club’s first preseason game, but it appears he’s now fully healthy. Aitcheson dressed for the team’s preseason game tonight against the New Jersey Devils, meaning he has another chance to impress Islanders brass before he is, in all likelihood, reassigned to his junior team. The third of the Islanders’ trio of 2025 first-rounders, Aitcheson is a rangy two-way blueliner who was recently ranked as the club’s No. 4 prospect by EliteProspects.

Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames Could Revisit Extension Talks

at CDT | by 6 Comments

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was one of the most talked-about players this past summer due to the persistent trade rumors surrounding him. Andersson was nearly dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights before the trade fell through, and in August Andersson’s teammates openly acknowledged that he was a near-certainty to be traded.

But today, Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN’s Insider Trading that it is not a guarantee that the Flames trade Andersson, rather than sign the pending UFA to a contract extension.

According to LeBrun, neither the Flames nor Andersson “want to totally close the door on maybe having extension talks again at some point this year.” LeBrun’s reporting indicates that it’s the Flames’ preference to see how the early part of their 2025-26 season unfolds before revisiting contract talks. For Andersson’s part, LeBrun reported that the player might be swayed to re-sign in Calgary “if there was an eight-year offer on the table,” but also added that he does not believe the Flames are “ready to go there” at this stage.

LeBrun concluded by saying that a trade remains the most likely outcome regardless of this new development.

This news changes the tone surrounding Andersson in a notable way, as it had previously appeared as though he was as close to a lock to be traded as one can get in the NHL.

But with a high-stakes unrestricted free agency looming, one that represents what is likely to be Andersson’s best chance at a long-term, extremely lucrative contract, it appears Andersson and his camp (led by 4Sports Hockey’s Claude Lemieux) don’t want to completely close the door on a potential bidder for Andersson’s services.

The soon-to-be-29-year-old Swedish blueliner has a very real chance at being the top defenseman available in next summer’s UFA market. Andersson is a true top-pairing right-handed defenseman, something that would make him a rare, highly sought-after player on a free agent market. Andersson averaged 24 minutes of ice time per night in 2024-25, including the most penalty-kill ice time of any Flames player.

Andersson is a highly competitive blueliner who plays with an edge, and he matches his ability to weather difficult defensive assignments with a solid level of offensive ability. He scored a career-high 50 points in 2021-22 and while his scoring numbers have steadily climbed down since that season (49 points in 2022-23, 39 in 2023-24, and 31 in 2024-25) he remains an all-around force and one of head coach Ryan Huska’s most trusted contributors.

The Flames’ alternate captain is the kind of player nearly every NHL team would like to add to its lineup, though his future free agent case is not without its risks. Andersson is set to play out the vast majority of his next contract in his 30s, and while he’s still a capable offensive contributor, his steady decline in production in recent years could give some teams pause. It could be fair to question whether the team that signs Andersson, due to the multiple seasons of 40-plus points on his resume, will ultimately end up paying for a level of production Andersson is no longer able to provide.

Accordingly, despite major factors set to act in Andersson’s favor next summer (such as the rarity of top-pairing right-handed defensemen on the open market) it would be understandable for Andersson to give serious thought to signing an eight-year extension in Calgary during the season should the club offer one.

At this stage, though, such speculation remains premature. As LeBrun reported, even with the revival of the slight prospect that Andersson re-signs in Calgary, the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that he is eventually traded. But until that happens, it appears Flames fans will be able to hold onto hope that their team’s longest-tenured defenseman may yet stay in Calgary.

Photos courtesy of Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Devils, Luke Hughes “Still A Ways Apart” In Contract Talks

at CDT | by 8 Comments

As the New Jersey Devils continue their training camp and play through their slate of preseason games, they do so without a notable name: Luke Hughes. Hughes remains a restricted free agent without a contract for this upcoming season, and today The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Hughes’ camp and the Devils remain “a ways apart” in their contract talks. LeBrun added that the two sides talked Monday and negotiations remain “amicable.” But while the two sides have agreed to pursue a long-term contract extension, the parties have not been able to agree on an AAV for that potential deal.

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald had previously expressed optimism that the looming presence of the start of training camp would help move talks along and eventually lead to a signed contract, but that did not end up happening. It does appear, based on LeBrun’s reporting, that there has been some progress at least. Previous reports indicated that the Devils were looking to sign Hughes to a contract of either a two or eight-year term, whereas Hughes had his sights set on a five-year term that would walk him right to unrestricted free agent status. But according to LeBrun, the term of the contract is no longer the sticking point of the negotiation – it’s the value of the deal.

Hughes, 22, has had an exceptional start to his NHL career with two consecutive seasons of exemplary point production for a young defenseman. The 2021 fourth-overall pick had a 47-point rookie season, after which he finished third in Calder Trophy voting and with a spot on the league’s All-Rookie team. Hughes scored 44 points in 71 games in his second year in the NHL, and looks every bit like a future star offensive defenseman.

His defensive contributions are not as highly regarded, but he did lead all Devils defensemen in time-on-ice per game as a rookie (21:28) indicating coaches do have some genuine level of trust in his play, even if he’s not a true shutdown force.

The combination of Hughes’ young age and his already very strong NHL resume naturally means he’s likely looking to secure a significant financial commitment on any long-term deal, especially given how the salary cap is set to rise in coming seasons.

While there has been no firm reporting that this is the case, it’s possible Hughes and his representation (Pat Brisson of CAA) are approaching these deals with a heightened level of caution because of the long-term deal Luke’s brother Jack Hughes signed with New Jersey after his own. In late 2021, Hughes signed an eight-year deal carrying an $8MM AAV, and for much of that contract Hughes’ on-ice value has certainly exceeded that cap hit. It would be entirely fair to speculate that the immense surplus value the Devils continue to receive from Jack Hughes’ contract has led the Hughes camp to more aggressively price future years on any Luke Hughes extension.

AFP Analytics currently projects Hughes’ worth on an eight-year contract extension to be $8.386MM AAV. Such a contract would make Hughes the second-highest-paid Devils defenseman behind Dougie Hamilton, and it’s worth noting that per PuckPedia’s tracking, the Devils do not at this stage project to have the cap space to fit in such a cap hit.

In any case, this is not an overly encouraging development for the Devils. While it’s certainly a positive that the disagreement appears to be narrowed down to contract value, rather than both term and value, it remains less than ideal for Hughes to be missing so much of the team’s training camp. The Devils are set to compete in what is likely to be a fiercely contested Metropolitan Division, and it’s possible this delay impedes Hughes’ ability to get off to a fast start – and that’s assuming he ends up signing a deal in the preseason.

If he misses any regular-season time, the overall impact of Hughes’ absence would obviously be all the more pronounced. While Hamilton’s presence means the Devils don’t need to rely on Hughes exclusively to bring offensive punch to their blueline, the Devils are most definitely a weaker team without him.

While there’s no indication at this point that this contract standoff is set to last until then, it is important to note that an RFA must sign a contract by 5pm EST on December 1st, 2025 in order to be eligible to compete in the 2025-26 NHL season.

It remains extremely unlikely that this situation extends that far, though. Hughes is one of the Devils’ most important players, he’s the brother of the face of their franchise, and he’s one of the NHL’s top young blueliners. With stakes this high, it’s difficult to imagine both sides not coming to some sort of agreement before Hughes misses too much game action.

Photos courtesy of Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top