The New Jersey Devils have solidified their defensive core by signing restricted free agent defenseman Luke Hughes to a seven-year, $63,000,000 contract extension, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $9,000,000. The contract ensures that Hughes will remain a significant part of the team’s blue line through the 2032-33 season. The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. Notably, the 22-year-old is set to join the Devils for practice on Thursday.

Luke Hughes form

Luke Hughes, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman, has quickly established himself as one of the NHL’s most promising young talents. In the 2024-25 season, his second full campaign with New Jersey, Hughes led all Devils defensemen with 44 points (7 goals, 37 assists) in 71 games. His 37 assists and 16 power-play points were team highs among blueliners, showcasing his offensive prowess. Hughes also registered an average of 21:09 per game, ranking second on the team behind Brett Pesce.

Since making his NHL debut in April 2023, Hughes has amassed 93 points (17 goals, 76 assists) in 155 regular-season games. His first career goal, an overtime winner against Washington on April 13, 2023, marked him as the third player in Devils history to score his inaugural goal in overtime.

He played a significant role in the 2023-24 season, where he recorded a career-high 47 points (9 goals, 38 assists), earning him a finalist nod for the Calder Memorial Trophy, making him the first Devils rookie since Adam Henrique in 2011-12 to receive such recognition.

Record-breaking rookie campaign

Luke Hughes’ 47 points in 2023-24 set a franchise record for the most points by a rookie defenseman in a single season since 1982-83. He required just 78 games to record his first 50 career points, the third-fewest for a Devils defenseman, trailing only Barry Beck (60 games) and Tapio Levo (68 games).

In the 2024-25 season, he notched a career-high 13 multi-point games, including a three-assist performance on March 26, 2025, tying his single-game career high.

College level and international accolades

Drafted fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 NHL Draft, Hughes signed his entry-level contract on April 8, 2023, following a brilliant sophomore season at the University of Michigan. There, he tallied 87 points (27 goals, 60 assists) in 80 games and earned Big Ten All-Freshman (2022) and First All-Star Team (2023) honors. As an alternate captain, he showcased leadership that translated to the international stage.

Representing Team USA, Hughes captained the 2023 World Junior Championship (WJC) squad to a bronze medal, leading all tournament defensemen with four goals. He also competed in the 2022 and 2024 IIHF World Championships, recording five points in 2024. Recently, Hughes participated in the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp in August 2025.