The Devils lean on internal options as Luke Hughes’ status remains up in the air, with Dawson Mercer showing flashes of top-six scoring but not yet delivering consistency. Gritsyuk could push for a middle-six role as preseason progresses, while Juho Lammikko anchors the fourth line. In goal, Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom form a tandem whose split workload may cap fantasy upside. Dallas’ Jamie Benn faces an injury scare that could shift depth chart dynamics early in the season.

Luke Hughes’ contract stalemate with the New Jersey Devils heads toward training camp as GM Tom Fitzgerald seeks a deal that fits both today’s roster needs and future cap realities. The piece notes rising caps shaping a buyer’s market and internal limits, while Dawson Mercer and Jeremy Swayman’s training camp absence adds leverage dynamics. Calgary’s Zary, Backlund, and Andersson; plus Canucks' Quinn Hughes, Rangers, Canadiens and Leafs are cited as comp benchmarks in a broader NHL cap landscape.

New Jersey faces a classic cap-and-contest conundrum: land a true top-six winger without hollowing a still-strong defensive core. The piece lays out a tiered shortlist—Jordan Kyrou, Jason Robertson, Jared McCann, Rickard Rakell, Tyler Toffoli, plus in-house options like Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes—with each name weighed against price, term, and fit. Kyrou’s full no-move clause and an $8.125M cap hit complicate any deal; Robertson would require a multi-piece package that likely includes Dougie Hamilton. McCann’s two-year, $5M hit looks attractive, but Kraken would command significant assets. Rakell and Toffoli are more plausible bullets for a smaller, surgically precise upgrade, while Mercer and Hughes offer internal growth but uncertain top-six ceiling. The Devils’ front office must decide whether to push hard now or preserve balance for the long grind toward a Stanley Cup.