The Devil’s star 22 year old defenseman Luke Hughes has finally secured himself a deal, locking him down for seven more years in New Jersey, while also earning himself a nice AAV of $9 million. Some will say it’s an overpay, and some will say it is just right with how the cap will rise over the next couple of years, but what is really interesting is what kind of an impact Luke's new deal will have on the Devils chances of securing his brother Quinn in two summers time.
It has been one of the biggest stories surrounding the NHL for a while that the Devils have a lot of interest in bringing all three Hughes brothers to Jersey, having already had two, and the term and salary of Luke’s deal was going to be a major telltale sign for if that dream can become a reality. As Quinn has two years remaining on his deal in Vancouver, Luke now locked up for 7 years in New Jersey, and Jack also locked down for another five, it looks like the Devils could well be trying to lure Quinn to Jersey, but let’s break down the reality, financials, and situations that could result in all three brothers ending up on the Devils.
Financials
Currently after signing Luke Hughes new contract, the Devils, only a couple weeks prior to the season are sitting at -$3 million in cap space, not an ideal situation, but it is clear they have a plan. For this season alone, there are two names that stick out to clear some cap, and get them back under the allowed cap. Dawson Mercer being one, and Ondrej Palat being the other. With Palat taking up a big chunk of the cap for the next two years at $6 million AAV, he is the clear option for the Devils to get put, not just for this year, but for the coming seasons. Moving Palat results in having $3 million in cap space before even moving anybody else. Presumably they move Dawson Mercer who is at $4 million AAV for the next two years, adding an extra four onto the three makes a very flexible $7 million in cap space before making any more big sacrifices.
However, it isn't this season that they will be trying to accommodate a perfect cap, but it is in two seasons time, just in time for Quinn. Had the Devils wait and not attempt to trade for Quinn during the next two seasons, Quinn hitting free agency in 2027/28 would mean big things for the Devils with the rap[idly growing cap, and here’s how they could do it.
With Palat and Mercer’s $10 million cleared this season, $7 million remains before any more transactions bringing their overall cap to around $88 million, also with no major pending free agents means no massive extensions. With the NHL salary cap raising about $10 million next season, a cap of $104 million means the Devils will have around $16 million in cap space with no major contracts to give out, and a lot of wiggle room in free agency. Nevertheless, let’s estimate and say the Devils spend a total of a maximum of $7 million on free agents, whether that is a starting goalie, a new d-man, whatever, that takes the Devils down to $9 million for next season, raising that to a cap space of around $18 million when the salary cap raises to $113.5 million in the summer of 2027/28. Ultimately, with all roads leading to the summer of Quinn Hughes, the Devils could realistically have anywhere between the $15 million to $20 million range in salary cap, and with no massive extensions to make barring Nico Hischier, and Brendan Dillon’s $4 million AAV deal coming to an end, the financials make the Quinn Hughes deal very possible, leaving the Devils with potentially a very workable $25 million in cap space, more than enough to get their guy and join the three Hughes brothers together.
Read the full story on the potential Quinn Hughes trade down below.
Comments