Latest Updates On Hughes & McTavish Contract Discussions

Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks are the two top RFAs without a contract as preseason has gotten under way. The longer things drag out, the less ready they will be for the season as they are set to have big roles and impact their teams.

Hughes appears to be much closer to a new contract than McTavish, which is great news for the Devils and bad news for the Ducks.

David Pagnotta recently said, "there seems to be more optimism surrounding Hughes and the New Jersey Devils - both sides appear to be focused on an eight-year extension and are working around the dollars." This is the best case scenario for New Jersey who will get Luke signed for multiple years past his brother Jack's contract, swaying Jack to re-sign after his current very team-friendly deal expires.

The Devils had originally hoped to either get Hughes on a bridge deal and re-negotiate when there's a little more money to spare, or max out his contract, which seems to be the direction both sides are good with now. There may have to be a trade ahead of the season-opening salary cap kicking in. However you look at it, the Devils are in a good place about to sign their young stud defender.

The Ducks should be worried, not because they won't eventually sign McTavish, but how it could drag out and cause irreversible harm. Darren Dreger said, "this one could be a while, that's our sense. I don't see which side is going to buckle in this one."

The Ducks have a lot of money to spare and are going to have a boatload more freed up after the season. Yes, there will be other players to sign with some of that money, but McTavish proved to be one of, if not the most impactful player on Anaheim last season and is only 22 years old. He has lots of room to continue to grow and a permanent place in the top-6 at center.

I think it's both term and money, but anything less than seven years won't necessarily be great. Getting McTavish signed sooner than later matters the most, but there's no reason to not hand him what he's shown he's worth and will be. The Ducks' GM plays hardball and there has been some turnover with some young players recently. That might be a reason.

Both should play the majority of this season, but we await what their contracts look like.