Devils sign center Hughes to eight-year, $64 million extension
NEWARK, N.J. » The New Jersey Devils have locked up their best player until the end of the decade, signing center Jack Hughes to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension.
General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the signing Tuesday afternoon, hours before the Devils and Hughes were to face the San Jose Sharks.
Hughes is returning to the lineup after missing 17 games with a dislocated shoulder.
“It’s a fantastic day for the organization and for our team, and for Jack and his family,” Fitzgerald said shortly before Tuesday night’s game. “It’s a win-win.”
Hughes, the No. 1 pick overall in the 2019 draft will earn an average salary of $8 million with the new contract. His salary over the deal will range from $9 million next season and dropping to $7 million in the final two years.
“I’m so excited to sign this deal for myself and for my family,” Hughes said.
The one thing the 20-year-old Hughes has not done is register a lot of points. That might be the byproduct of playing on weak teams. Fitzgerald added that Hughes’ style of play is to be admired and followed by his teammates.
Hughes has two goals and one assist in two games this year. In his first two seasons, along with the two games played this year, he has 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 119
NHL games.
PANTHERS 5, CAPITALS 4 » Sam Reinhart scored the winning power-play goal with 14.4 seconds left, capping a furious comeback for Florida to beat Washington.
RED WINGS 2, BRUINS 1 » Marc Staal’s first goal of the season was the tiebreaker with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 41 saves, leading Detroit over Boston.
Boston coach Bruce Cassidy missed the game after being placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol earlier in the day.
SHARKS 5, DEVILS 2 » Timo Meier scored twice, James Reimer made 32 saves and San Jose defeated New Jersey.
Kane reports to minors
SAN JOSE » Evander Kane reported for his first day in the minors focused on doing what it will take to get back to the NHL instead of rehashing the allegations from the offseason that led to one of the league’s top forwards being relegated to the AHL.
Kane’s 21-game suspension for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card has ended.
“I came in today, the same person, same teammate, same player that I was and everything went great,” Kane said Tuesday. “I think there’s been a lot of misinformation that’s been said. But I can only control how I act and what I do here and that’s what I’m doing.”