Devils celebrate Jack Hughes’s return with monster extension!

The New Jersey Devils found the perfect way to celebrate captain Jack Hughes’ return. On Tuesday, it was reported that the star forward had agree to an eight years, $64 million contract extension with the Devils.

Hughes would have become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season. The contract begins in 2022-23 and the breakdown is as follows: 2022-23: $9,000,000, 2023-24: $8,500,000, 2024-25:  $8,500,000, 2025-26: $8,500,000, 2026-27: $8,000,000, 2027-28: $7,500,000, 2028-29: $7,000,000 & 2029-30: $7,000,000. The announcement was made by Devils Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

The team confirmed the news moments later.

Hughes, who missed 17 games due to a dislocated shoulder, returns tonight against the San Jose Sharks. Hours prior to the contest, the news came out that he was approaching a contract extension with the team that selected him first in the 2019 NHL Draft.

The superstar was injured back on Oct. 19 when he was trying to control the puck before he was checked by Seattle Kraken defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and was down on the ice for several seconds before getting up and skating off.

It will be great for the Devils to get him back and know he is in it for the long run.

In total, Hughes has scored 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 119 games. And with that deal under his belt, he has a lot more in store, no doubt.