The New Jersey Devils can technically overpay Luke Hughes and exceed the salary cap, but only temporarily.
NHL rules allow teams to go up to 10% over the cap during the offseason (roughly $8.8 million this year), as long as they are cap compliant by opening night. That gives the Devils flexibility with Hughes’ new deal, even as they face current cap constraints.
Cap Space Breakdown:
The Devils currently have $6,131,667 in cap space, ranking 20th in the NHL. Only 11 teams have over $10 million remaining.
- No retained salary or buried contracts
- $1 million in bonus carryover charges
- In better shape than some: Vegas, Montreal, and Florida are already over the cap
Luke Hughes Contract Outlook:
Luke Hughes is expected to land a substantial long-term extension. To project his deal, it's helpful to compare:
- Dougie Hamilton is the team’s highest-paid player at $9 million/year (3 years remaining)
- Timo Meier earns $8.8 million/year
- Jack Hughes, Luke’s brother, earns $8 million/year — a contract The Athletic recently ranked as the best in the NHL
Comparables and Predictions:
- Erik Karlsson is the league’s top-paid defenseman at $11.6 million, though at 35 years old, he's not a relevant comp for Hughes
- Dawson Mercer, 23, recently signed a 3-year, $12M deal ($4M AAV) While Mercer is a forward, this could still set a precedent
There’s no direct young defensive comp on the Devils' roster, but projections for Luke Hughes fall in the 7-8 year range, with an AAV between $7M–$7.5M. That would be a strong deal for both sides.
Alternatively, the team might explore a short-term bridge deal to retain flexibility.
Bottom Line:
The Devils can exceed the cap this summer when signing Luke Hughes, but they must be cap compliant by October 9, when they open the season against the Hurricanes in Carolina.
What Is Tom Fitzgerald Waiting For?
<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils">New Jersey Devils</a> General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has made it clear that re-signing Luke Hughes is at the top of his offseason priorities.
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