The New Jersey Devils have huge expectations, and Tom Fitzgerald believes the 2025-26 season could be the start of Jack Hughes and his brother Luke stamping their legacies in the Garden State.
Fitzgerald opened up with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic about why he was excited to get Luke Hughes’ contract completed and the expectations he has for the Devils this year.
A year after limping into the playoffs, and falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, the Devils have won five straight and are tied for first place in the Metropolitan Division with three other teams, including Carolina.
Still, the Devils were 24-11-3 last year in their first 38 games before injuries, specifically to Jack Hughes, had an adverse impact.
Tom Fitzgerald Stays Mum On Quinn Hughes Question
So much of the talk surrounding the Devils involves whether the Devils can get all three Hughes brothers — Jack, Luke and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes — on the same roster.
But Fitzgerald wouldn’t address the Devils landing Quinn, even after Jack said he would “love to play” with his brother this off-season.
“When you talk about other teamsâ players, itâs off-limits â however, I canât control what other people say, including Jack,” Fitzgerald told The Athletic. “Itâs probably a normal thing for him to say that.”
Fitzgerald told LeBrun he wished he could have played with his cousin Keith Tkachuk during his playing days — “that would have been pretty special for our family” — before turning the attention back to Jack and Luke.
“I just worry about our two (Hughes brothers). Theyâre getting better and better every single day, and thatâs the most important thing.â
Tom Fitzgerald Hopes Jack Hughes ‘Retires a Devil’
Fitzgerald addressed the timely process of signing Luke Hughes when he was a restricted free agent this off-season and shined some light on the process.
“People might ask why these things arenât done in July: ‘it’s] because thereâs no 11th hour in July,â Fitzgerald said. âA proposal in July turns into a counter in August turns into another counter in September, then camp is here and the urgency starts to get going.
âBut we knew we would sign Luke to a long-term deal. We know how much he and his family love New Jersey. Heâs a big part of our team now, never mind the future. So it was just trying to make it all work, and we did. Iâm so glad thatâs behind us.”
So with one Hughes locked in for a seven-year, $63 million deal, Fitzgerald is already planning on Jack’s next long-term deal — even though he will not be extension eligible until July 1, 2029.
âJack still has a few more years on his deal,” Fitzgerald said. “We want these kids to create their legacies in New Jersey, meaning the two that I have. Thatâs the ultimate goal.”
Jack Hughes has already become one of the most prolific offensive players in Devils history. With his hat trick in Toronto on Tuesday he pulled even with Stephane Richer for 16th on the team’s all-time goals list (147) despite the fact he is seven months away from his 25th birthday
So even though it’s years away, Fitzgerald is still excited by the prospect of Jack Hughes re-signing.
“Jack will be up next,” Fitzgerald said. “We would like nothing more than to see him retire as a Devil and sign another long-term deal with us.â
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