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.

The New Jersey Devils are set for a significant overhaul of their roster ahead of the 2025-26 season, as General Manager Tom Fitzgerald confirmed that the current lineup is not sufficient for their ambitions. Fitzgerald highlighted that decisions regarding player retention and potential trades will be crucial this summer. Among the unrestricted free agents are notable names like Jake Allen and Tomas Tatar, alongside key restricted free agents including Luke Hughes and Nolan Foote.

Fitzgerald expressed a desire to re-sign Jacob Markstrom, who has a year left on his contract, and discussions regarding his extension are anticipated to occur soon. The future of players like Dawson Mercer is also in question, with the possibility of him being traded to create cap space for improving the team’s scoring ability. The upcoming offseason promises to be busy as the Devils look to finalize their roster for a more competitive season.

In a thrilling playoff matchup, Sebastian Aho scored a decisive one-timer in the second overtime, sealing a 5-4 victory for the Carolina Hurricanes over the New Jersey Devils. This dramatic win allowed the Hurricanes to clinch their first-round series, moving them into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The game was marked by a rollercoaster of events, with Carolina initially trailing 3-0 within the first 10 minutes. The turning point came during a double-minor penalty on Dawson Mercer, which led to Aho's game-winning goal while the Hurricanes were on a four-minute power play.

This win propels Carolina into the next round, where they await the victor of the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals series, with the Capitals currently leading that matchup 3-1. Aho's performance and the resilience of the Hurricanes in overcoming an early deficit highlight their potential as they advance deeper into the playoffs.