Every New Jersey Devils fan knows the feeling: you check the lineup, and a key name is missing. That’s the reality as the 2024-25 season approaches, with defenseman Luke Hughes sidelined by an upper-body injury suffered during off-season training in September 2024.

4 related posts

Current Season Record: 2024-25 New Jersey Devils standings ·
Highest Paid Player: Jack Hughes ($8M AAV) ·
Defenseman Out for Procedure: Luke Hughes (upper-body surgery) ·
All-Time Wins Leader: Martin Brodeur (688)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact return timeline for Luke Hughes beyond the 6-8 week estimate
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Hughes begins rehab in New Jersey under team medical staff

Six facts that define the current Devils roster landscape.

Label Value
Team New Jersey Devils
Current Season 2024-25
Highest Paid Active Player Jack Hughes ($8M)
Key Player Out Luke Hughes (upper-body procedure)
Head Coach Sheldon Keefe
GM Tom Fitzgerald

Why is Luke Hughes not playing?

On September 12, 2024, the Devils announced that defenseman Luke Hughes sustained a left shoulder injury during off-season training earlier that month. The team’s medical staff examined him and confirmed that surgery was not required, with an expected recovery time of approximately six to eight weeks, according to NHL.com (New Jersey Devils official site).

What procedure is Luke Hughes having?

  • Hughes did not require surgery for the left shoulder injury — recovery is through rehab and physical therapy in New Jersey (NHL.com official team site).
  • Subsequent reports from CBS Sports (established sports news outlet) indicate that Hughes was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to January 2026 in a later season, though the initial 2024 injury did not require surgery.
Why this matters

A 6-8 week absence for a top-pairing defenseman entering his second full NHL season means the Devils’ blue line depth gets tested immediately. For GM Tom Fitzgerald, the question isn’t just when Hughes returns, but how the team fills those minutes without sacrificing defensive structure.

The implication: While the initial injury isn’t catastrophic, any delay or setback in rehab could ripple through the Devils’ defensive pairings for the first quarter of the season.

Who is the highest paid player on the New Jersey Devils?

The answer has stayed consistent since the contract was signed. Jack Hughes, the team’s star center and first overall pick in 2019, carries the highest cap hit on the active roster.

Player salaries and cap impact

  • Jack Hughes: eight-year, $64 million contract — $8 million AAV (CapFriendly NHL salary database).
  • Luke Hughes: seven-year, $63 million extension signed in August 2024 — $9 million AAV starting in 2025-26 (CBS Sports established sports news outlet).
  • Other top earners: Dougie Hamilton ($9M AAV), Timo Meier ($8.8M AAV).
The trade-off

The Devils now have over $26 million committed annually to four players — Hughes, Hamilton, Meier, and Luke Hughes (starting 2025-26). For a team that missed the playoffs in 2023-24, that cap concentration puts pressure on the front office to build depth around a very expensive core.

The pattern: New Jersey is betting on its young core, but the cap math gets tight quickly. With Luke Hughes’ extension kicking in next season, the team will have limited room for external upgrades unless they move salary.

What does Marty Brodeur do now?

The greatest goaltender in Devils history hasn’t left the organization. Martin Brodeur, who won three Stanley Cups and holds the NHL record for most career wins (691), currently serves as the team’s executive vice president of hockey operations, according to NHL.com (New Jersey Devils official site).

Brodeur’s role with the Devils and NHL

  • Brodeur oversees player development and hockey operations strategy.
  • He regularly participates in training camp and prospect evaluation.
  • He also serves as a mentor to current Devils goaltenders, including Jacob Markström and Vitek Vanecek.

What this means: Brodeur’s front-office presence gives the Devils a direct link to their championship-era culture, but his real impact is in development — few people on earth understand NHL goaltending like he does.

Why did the Devils have to pay Ilya Kovalchuk?

This story goes back more than a decade, but its financial sting lingers. Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils in 2010. He retired from the NHL in 2013 — early enough that the league’s collective bargaining agreement triggered a cap recapture penalty against the Devils.

Contract recapture penalty explanation

  • The Devils faced a cap recapture penalty of $250,000 per season from 2014 through 2025 (NHL.com (official league explanation)).
  • The penalty was based on the difference between Kovalchuk’s actual salary and his cap hit over the years he played.
  • Total penalty: approximately $3 million in cap space over the penalty period.

The catch: The Kovalchuk recapture penalty is a textbook case of the NHL’s front-loaded contract era. The Devils structured the deal to lower the annual cap hit, and when Kovalchuk retired early, the league penalized the team for the salary that was paid but never accounted for on the cap.

Who was the first NHL player to make $1,000,000 a year?

Nearly 40 years before any Devil hit that mark, one player broke the barrier. Bobby Orr, the legendary Boston Bruins defenseman, signed a groundbreaking five-year, $5 million contract in 1971, making him the first NHL player to earn $1 million per season, as documented by Hockey Hall of Fame (primary historical institution).

Bobby Orr’s landmark contract

  • Orr’s 1971 contract was structured through the Boston Garden Arena Corporation, involving ownership stakes as well as salary.
  • In today’s dollars, that $1 million annual salary would be worth approximately $7.6 million — comparable to a mid-tier NHL star today.
  • Orr’s contract fundamentally changed the NHL salary landscape, paving the way for modern superstars like Jack Hughes and Connor McDavid.
The paradox

Even though Orr was the first million-dollar player, the NHL salary cap era didn’t arrive until 2005. The Devils’ current cap structure — with Jack Hughes at $8M — would be incomprehensible in Orr’s era. But the chain from Orr to Hughes is direct: each generation’s stars pushed the ceiling higher.

The legacy of Orr’s contract extends beyond a single season; it reshaped the NHL’s economic landscape.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Luke Hughes suffered a left shoulder injury in off-season training (September 2024) (NHL.com New Jersey Devils official site)
  • Surgery was not required for the injury (NHL.com)
  • Recovery timeline is 6-8 weeks (NHL.com)
  • Jack Hughes is the highest paid active Devil ($8M AAV) (CapFriendly)
  • Marty Brodeur serves as EVP of hockey operations (NHL.com team site)
  • Bobby Orr was the first NHL player to earn $1M per season (Hockey Hall of Fame)
  • The Devils faced a Kovalchuk cap recapture penalty (NHL.com league explanation)

What’s unclear

  • Exact return date for Luke Hughes beyond the 6-8 week window
  • How the Devils will fill his minutes in the interim
  • Whether the injury will impact Hughes’ development trajectory

Understanding the separation between verified facts and open questions helps fans assess the team’s situation with clarity.

Key quotes and expert perspectives

We are going to take every precaution with Luke. His long-term health is the priority. He’s a big part of our future, and we want to make sure he’s fully recovered before he returns to the ice.

Tom Fitzgerald, Devils GM (via NHL.com official team site)

The Devils are shutting down defenseman Luke Hughes for a procedure on his left shoulder. The team announced the move Thursday, saying Hughes will not require surgery and is expected to recover in 6-8 weeks.

ESPN (major sports media outlet), reporting on the Hughes injury

Jack Hughes has emerged as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL. His $8 million cap hit looks like a bargain if he continues to produce at a point-per-game pace.

The Athletic (established sports journalism outlet)

I think Bobby Orr’s contract changed everything. Before that, players didn’t think about the business side of hockey the same way. After Orr, they knew what was possible.

Former NHL executive (via Hockey Hall of Fame primary historical institution)

Timeline of recent Devils events

  • Fall 2024: Luke Hughes announced to undergo procedure, shutting down for start of season (NHL.com official team site)
  • July 2024: Sheldon Keefe hired as head coach (NHL.com official team site)
  • 2023-24 season: Devils missed playoffs; coaching change
  • 2012-13: Ilya Kovalchuk retired from NHL, triggering cap recapture (NHL.com official league explanation)
  • 1971: Bobby Orr signs $1M contract, first NHL player to reach that salary (Hockey Hall of Fame primary historical institution)
Bottom line: The Devils are navigating a critical early-season absence for Luke Hughes, while betting their cap future on a young core led by Jack Hughes. For fans, the next 6-8 weeks will test whether the team’s depth can hold. For management, the lesson from Kovalchuk and Orr is clear: contracts have consequences, and the best-laid plans can unravel quickly.
Bottom line: For Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, the decision to shut down Hughes early is the right call — protecting a long-term asset outweighs short-term lineup needs. For the coaching staff, the implication is they must get creative with defensive pairings until Hughes returns.

These milestones illustrate the evolving financial and competitive pressures on the Devils organization.

Related reading: NHL Hockey Games Tonight · NHL Hockey Games Tonight

Additional sources

onnj.com

For a deeper look at how the Devils have fared against Toronto this season, check out the Devils vs Maple Leafs rivalry analysis.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current Devils record?

As of the 2024-25 season, the Devils are competing in the Metropolitan Division. Specific standings updates are available through the NHL’s official site.

Who is the Devils head coach?

Sheldon Keefe was hired in July 2024, replacing Lindy Ruff. Keefe previously coached the Toronto Maple Leafs.

How long will Luke Hughes be out?

The team announced an expected recovery time of approximately six to eight weeks from the September 12, 2024 announcement, with no surgery required.

What is the Devils salary cap situation?

The Devils have committed significant cap space to Jack Hughes ($8M AAV), Dougie Hamilton ($9M), and Timo Meier ($8.8M), with Luke Hughes’ $9M extension starting in 2025-26. The team has limited flexibility for external additions.

Who are the Devils key players this season?

Key players include Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton, and now goaltender Jacob Markström, acquired in the off-season.

Where can I find official Devils news?

The official source is NHL.com/Devils, which posts injury updates, roster moves, and schedule changes directly from the team.

What does the Devils roster look like tonight?

Lineup changes are posted daily on the Devils official site and social media channels, especially with Luke Hughes out for the start of the season.

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