New Jersey re-signed forward Erik Haula to a three-year contract worth $9,450,000.
By the end of the 2022-23 season, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew his team was on the fast track to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. His young core got a taste of postseason hockey and now understands how difficult it is to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In this summer series, I will chronologically break down every move the organization made this offseason and discuss how it positively or negatively impacts the team for the 2023-24 season.
Veteran forward Erik Haula made it clear that there was only one team he wanted to play for, and that was the Devils.
"I don't want to play for any other team. I want to come back here," he said during his end-of-season media availability.
On June 23, Haula signed a three-year contract with New Jersey worth $9,450,000 with an annual average value of $3,150,000. The breakdown is as follows: 2023-24: $3,900,000, 2024-25: $3,150,000, and 2025-26: $2,400,000.
"When I traded for Erik, we talked about how he was the type of player that we needed to help us continue to move the group forward," said GM Fitzgerald in the official press release. "He played key minutes in all situations throughout the season- power play, penalty kill, taking faceoffs- and provided leadership for our team."
Haula finished the 2022-23 campaign with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 80 games. His 54.2% face-off percentage ranked second on the team behind Michael McLeod (60.6%).
The evolution of the fanbase's reaction towards Haula from the initial trade to his re-signing was fascinating to witness. Over time, many realized he contributed more to the team than his goals. Even when he was offensively snakebitten, the 32-year-old was a key penalty killer and an asset in the face-off circle. During the postseason, he excelled, scoring four goals and tallying six points in 12 playoff games.
His new teammate Colin Miller recently referred to Haula as "an ultra-competitive player," and in a team's TikTok, he was asked how his family would describe him, and his response included intense and competitive. Without question, that intensity and drive to win was on display throughout the season.
Back in March, Bratt spoke about Haula and the experience he brings into the locker room.
"He's obviously a key guy. He's been around for a long time and has played for a lot of successful teams," said Bratt. "Obviously, that brings a lot of maturity and a good voice in the room for us in the room who, on paper, are a younger team."
Bringing the versatile forward back was a no-brainer for the Devils. GM Fitzgerald has publicly stated he wants players on his team who desire to be in New Jersey. After Haula's exit interview, it was not a matter of if but when he would sign a new contract.