The Devils had a disappointing first-round exit in this year’s playoffs, which capped off a frustrating season marked by injuries to key players, inconsistent play, and a bottom six that underperformed. The team started the season well but struggled in the second half, failing to meet the high expectations that had been set for them.
While it was undoubtedly a disappointment, there were lots of takeaways for the young Devils stars, and it should help them in the long run. The Devils entered the summer with a handful of small holes and did well to make some improvements without overspending in the free agent market. This should enable them to maintain their core and surround their stars with a formidable supporting cast.
New Jersey entered the off-season with just over $12MM in cap space and a few issues to resolve. Their first move was to trade forward Erik Haula and his $3.15MM cap hit to the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick and Jeremy Hanzel. The 34-year-old Haula had been a dependable player for the Devils, but his decline in offensive production last season (11 goals and 10 assists in 69 games) made him expendable, and the Devils acted quickly to make the trade. This move allowed the Devils to enter free agency with $15MM in cap space, which they promptly used to sign forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov.
The 31-year-old Brown regained his form last season with the Edmonton Oilers, reaching the 30-point mark for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Brown was once a reliable depth scorer, but injuries and inconsistency interrupted his production for a couple of seasons before his resurgence last year.
Brown signed a four-year, $12 million contract and is expected to provide the Devils with steady bottom-six minutes while creating offensive chances for himself and his teammates. He remains a good skater, which helps him defensively and also allows him to carry the puck effectively and drive transition plays.
While his deal might be a bit lengthy, the cap hit is quite manageable and shouldn’t hinder New Jersey too much in the latter part of the contract. He could see time on New Jersey’s third line, possibly alongside Dawson Mercer.
The one-year deal that Dadonov signed for a $1MM base salary was a significant discount for a player who recorded 20 goals and 40 points last season in 80 games. The 36-year-old received less than a minute per game on the power play and did most of his offensive work at 5-on-5, tallying 33 of his 40 points.
Dadonov doesn’t drive play like he used to, but he remains a capable passer who can still skate well and should be able to provide the Devils with valuable minutes at minimal cost. Surprisingly, he had to accept such a low number, but considering his age and the fact that teams are prioritizing youth, there might not have been much of a market for his services.
Another solid move the Devils made was re-signing backup goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year, $9MM contract. The 34-year-old was the top goaltender available in free agency, and many thought he would earn over $4MM per season, with AFP Analytics projecting a two-year deal worth $7MM.
Allen did better financially, spreading his earnings over an additional three years, but it was well short of the $5MM per season he reportedly sought at the end of June. Last season, Allen’s numbers were well above average, with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .908 SV%.
A closer look reveals he was more excellent with the Devils than those numbers indicate, posting 18.4 goals saved above expected (per MoneyPuck). The Devils did a great job keeping Allen’s cap hit as low as possible and retained one of the better backup options in the NHL for less than the typical rate for backups.
The deal might cost more in total years, but by years four and five, New Jersey could likely bury Allen’s cap hit in the AHL for minimal cost if needed. The rising salary cap will also influence years four and five, as Allen’s $1.35MM salary could be near league minimum depending on revenues at that time.
The Devils also made several depth AHL signings, adding forwards Angus Crookshank and Juho Lammikko, as well as defenseman Calen Addison. These moves are likely to have minimal impact at the NHL level but should provide Utica with valuable players and potential call-up options.
Now that much of their business is done, the Devils will focus on signing defenseman Luke Hughes to a long-term deal. AFP projected he could receive $5.75MM annually on a three-year bridge deal or $8.386MM on a six-year long-term contract.
With the Devils holding about $6.9MM in available cap space, they may decide to go short-term with the 21-year-old and delay more permanent commitments to maintain flexibility heading into next season.
The Devils’ summer won’t blow anyone away, but adding a couple of forward pieces and keeping their goaltending depth with minimal cap space was a good move for a team that plans to run it back with almost the same core, assuming they re-sign Hughes. This time, the Devils will be hoping for better luck and more consistency.
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