Defenseman was restricted free agent, had 44 points for New Jersey last season

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Luke Hughes signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $9 million.

The 22-year-old defenseman, who was a restricted free agent, had 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) in 71 regular-season games for the Devils last season. He is expected to practice with them Thursday.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald on July 2 reiterated on three occasions that re-signing Hughes was his “No. 1 priority.” He said the same thing when New Jersey opened training camp Sept. 18.

“We will be signing him,” Fitzgerald said. “I said it earlier … the top priority is signing Luke Hughes to a long-term deal. That’s our goal. It hasn’t changed.

“This is part of the process. We’re grinding through this together and presenting both sides’ stories and where we want to go with this, respecting each other’s opinions.”

Hughes was limited to one game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on April 20. The Devils lost the best-of-7 series in five games and Hughes had shoulder surgery 10 days after he was injured.

The No. 4 pick by the Devils in the 2021 NHL Draft, Hughes has 93 points (17 goals, 76 assists) in 155 regular-season games, and two assists in four playoff games.

Luke’s brother, center Jack Hughes, is entering the fourth season of an eight-year, $64 million contract ($8 million average annual value) he signed with the Devils on Nov. 30, 2021. Defenseman Quinn Hughes, who is the eldest of the Hughes brothers, has two seasons remaining on a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million AAV) he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2021.