The New Jersey Devils and Luke Hughes are still a ways apart in contract negotiations, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports.
Hughes, 22, is a restricted free agent and is still unsigned with the beginning of the NHL season less than a month away.
Both sides in Luke Hughes negotiation spoke again Monday night in an effort to find some leeway in talks for the unsigned RFA D. Both sides still need to find more common ground. Still a ways apart. Both sides are focused on a long-term deal but aren’t there yet on the AAV. The…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 23, 2025
According to LeBrun, the two sides spoke again on Monday night in an effort to find some leeway in talks on a potential next contract.
LeBrun reports that both sides are focused on a long-term deal, but the disagreement is centered around average annual value of the contract. The negotiations are still amicable, but an agreement does not appear to be close.
Hughes scored seven goals and finished with 44 points in 71 games last season, his third in the NHL. The left-handed defenceman was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Hughes is playing alongside his older brother Jack in New Jersey, who agreed to an eight-year deal with the team in 2021 shortly after Luke was drafted.
In 155 career NHL games, Hughes has 17 goals and 93 points.
