Devils GM: Luke Hughes' deal will get done
New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is optimistic about contract negotiations with restricted free-agent defenseman Luke Hughes.
"Eventually, this will get done," Fitzgerald told James Murphy of RG Media. "The 11th hour is training camp, right? A lot of times, a lot of the stuff doesn't get done until the 11th hour.
"We're hoping we can get something done here in quick fashion, and both sides are working hard at it, that's for sure."
New Jersey is reportedly seeking the max eight-year term or a bridge deal, while Hughes' representatives are looking for a five-year contract to align with his brother and teammate Jack.
Fitzgerald is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year when forward Dawson Mercer missed the first three days of training camp before securing a three-year, $12-million contract.
"At the end of the day, when really the only leverage the player has at this point in their career is holding out, that stinks," Fitzgerald said. "I don't think anyone wins, quite honestly, when that happens. So (Hughes' agent) and I are trying hard to get this thing to come to some common ground."
The Devils selected Hughes with the No. 4 overall pick in 2021. The 6-foot-2 blue-liner tallied seven goals and 37 assists in 71 appearances last season.
Hughes finished third in Calder Award voting during the 2023-24 campaign.
New Jersey opens training camp Sept. 10.