5 Contracts New Jersey Devils Can Use In Jack Hughes Negotiations

Mathew Barzal: 3 years, $7 million AAV

There is the distinct possibility that the Devils could seek a contract that would keep Hughes a restricted free agent at the end of it. He has a lot to prove, and the salary cap is still in flux for the foreseeable future. Giving him a three-year deal at the end of this deal would give him six full years when the Devils could give him a long-term deal.

The Islanders were going to face a really difficult negotiation, but we have to give the former Devil his due, Lou Lamoriello signed Barzal to a great deal.

$7 million is not bad for a player like Hughes, even if this does change his qualifying offer. The Islanders have to offer Barzal a $10 million deal just to keep him. The Islanders are obviously going to do that while they negotiate a new deal. However, would the Devils be willing to do something like that?

The qualifying offer makes this a really difficult sell. The Devils would be forced to give him that deal, and Hughes might just play for $10 million per season. The Devils probably wouldn’t give him that unless he dominates on a level we haven’t seen yet. There are quite a few players making $10 million in a year, but none of them are playing on potential alone.