Devils Rumors: Luke Hughes Closing In On New Deal

Slowly but surely, the RFAs are signing deals before training camp this season. One of the six who have yet to do so is Luke Hughes, but there isn't much worry as his brother, Jack, is with the team and Luke isn't going anywhere.

Elliotte Friedman reported that, "this is one that I watch next week. We get to a situation where the players...start coming to camp. I don't worry about this one." Training camp does open soon and it's no secret that players tend to be a step behind if they don't get their reps in training camp. The New Jersey Devils aren't in a ton of danger to miss the playoffs with the team they have, but they would definitely like their young defensive star to be up to speed right off the bat.

I think Hughes may want the same thing as well. The issue I see is the cap space and term. The Devils have slightly over $6 million in cap space and Hughes is also looking for a deal that will end at the same time as his brother's, so five years. New Jersey would like shorter or max term because then Luke would be a UFA at the end of that deal. But if that's all he can be signed for, the Devils get five more years of him and there's no indication that both Hughes brothers are going to leave as UFAs. There aren't very many places that would have $20 million+ to spend on both of them in one offseason, never mind factoring in Quinn Hughes too.

It may be too late in the offseason to trade Dougie Hamilton, but that is one deal that seems to be coming. The team has too many capable defenders and at least one is going to be on the move. Hughes already proved he could take over the top spot on the back-end and quarterback the power play successfully. Hamilton also wouldn't have a shortage of suitors given how good he is.

I wouldn't be shocked if Luke Hughes is the next one of the RFAs to sign, and it's a shorter deal to get something done quickly. The Devils have their sights set on a Stanley Cup and have to have Hughes at the top of his game to have the best shot.