Luke Hughes signs 3-year entry level contract, joins Devils

Luke Hughes signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and is expected to join older brother Jack Hughes with the team before it visits the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN NOW).

The 19-year-old defenseman, who was selected by the Devils with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, turned pro after two seasons at the University of Michigan. The Wolverines’ season ended with a 5-2 loss to Quinnipiac University in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday.

Luke Hughes said after the defeat that he is looking forward to playing with Jack, who is in his fourth NHL season after being selected by New Jersey with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

“That’s been a dream of mine, but so has this,” Luke Hughes said. “Michigan is such a special place with so many special people here. Being on this team has been an absolute pleasure.”

Hughes had 87 points (27 goals, 60 assists) in 80 games during his two seasons with Michigan. He had 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) in 39 games as a sophomore this season to help the Wolverines go 26-12-3 and reach the Frozen Four for the second straight season.

After being selected to the NCAA All-America Second Team and All-Big Ten Second Team and being named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year last season, Hughes was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team this season.

“There have been so many special people that I’ve played with and been around since I’ve been involved with the program,” Hughes said. “It’s truly been two special years here. You can go from a talent basis or just everyday guys, the upperclassmen…everyone, it’s just a special group of guys.”

But Hughes believes after two years with Michigan, he is ready to make the next step to the NHL with the Devils.

“Two years (in college) has been good for me,” he said. “It was good for guys like [Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar]. I kind of think that’s the path.”