The Athletic recently ranked New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes’ contract as the best in the NHL.
Hughes’ eight-year, $64 million deal is considered the league’s top bargain for its value, term, and minimal cap impact. At $8 million per season, Hughes takes up only a small portion of New Jersey’s payroll.
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But while the Devils boast one of the NHL’s best contracts, they also carry one that may be among the worst.
The team currently holds 47 standard contracts and 23 players on the active roster, with $6,131,677 in available cap space under the $95.5 million limit for the 2025–26 season. Their salary breakdown is:
Forwards – 57.3% of cap
Defensemen – 29.1% of cap
Goaltenders – 6.2% of cap
The lowest-paid Devil is Paul Cotter at $775,000 annually, while Dougie Hamilton is the highest at $9 million. But neither contract is seen as the team’s biggest issue. That distinction belongs to winger Ondrej Palát.
Palát, 34, is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $30 million deal ($6 million AAV) with a no-trade clause. Given his age, injury history, and declining production, his contract stands out as a cap burden, especially for a team with younger, more impactful forwards on cheaper deals, like Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Hughes.
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In 2024–25, Palát appeared in 77 games, recording 15 goals and 13 assists. While his leadership and playoff experience are valuable, that level of output is costly for a team managing tight cap space.
The Devils still have significant business ahead this offseason, including a major extension for rising star defenseman Luke Hughes, expected to sign a contract in the range of his older brother’s deal. While New Jersey can temporarily exceed the cap during the offseason, they must be compliant before the 2025–26 opener.
With new contracts looming and limited flexibility, Palát’s $6 million salary could be one the Devils look to move before the season begins, despite also owning the NHL’s best-value deal in Jack Hughes.
Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images