NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Tom Fitzgerald knows what the ultimate end result will be in the New Jersey Devils' contract dispute with unsigned restricted free agent Luke Hughes.

“We will be signing him,” the longtime general manager said Thursday.

Eventually. Still, Hughes does not have a contract for the upcoming NHL season and, as a result, is not at training camp. The same goes for Anaheim's Mason McTavish and Nashville's Luke Evangelista, and while opening night is still more than two weeks away, not having young players on the ice for practice sessions is less than ideal for all parties involved.

“I do believe every day you lose, it is an impact on a player,” Fitzgerald said. “So, from our end, yeah there’s urgency to get him here or to continue to strive to that common goal of getting a

See Full Page