Highly rated prospect Luke Hughes, who was the No. 4 pick of the 2021 NHL draft, signed his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

The decision to sign the 19-year-old defenseman was widely expected after Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said after the trade deadline that Hughes would join the team once his season ended at Michigan. Hughes, a sophomore, helped Michigan reach a second consecutive Frozen Four appearance only to fall to Quinnipiac in the national semifinal on Thursday.