The New Jersey Devils began the offseason with a long list of free agents to either re-sign or release.
As of August 10th, they’re down to just two players without contracts: restricted free agent Luke Hughes and unrestricted free agent Max Willman.
At the end of last season, the Devils had 18 free agents - six restricted and 12 unrestricted.
Unrestricted Free Agents entering the offseason:
- F Tomas Tatar
- F Nathan Bastian
- F Curtis Lazar
- F Daniel Sprong
- F Justin Dowling
- D Brian Dumoulin
- D Dennis Cholowski
- G Jake Allen
- F Max Willman
- F Sam Laberge
- F Marc McLaughlin
- D Tory Dello
Restricted Free Agents:
- F Cody Glass
- F Nolan Foote
- D Luke Hughes
- F Nathan Légaré
- D Santeri Hatakka
- G Isaac Poulter
Before free agency opened, the Devils made two quick moves.
First, they re-signed Nathan Légaré to a one-year, $775,000 contract. Légaré spent most of last season with the Utica Comets, New Jersey’s AHL affiliate, and will likely remain there for most of 2025-26.
Second, Santeri Hatakka signed overseas with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League.
Other departures followed:
- Tomas Tatar (34) signed with EV Zug in Switzerland’s top league.
- Nathan Bastian joined the Dallas Stars on a one-year deal
- Curtis Lazar signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
- Daniel Sprong left for the KHL’s CSKA Moskva.
- Justin Dowling joined the New York Rangers on a two-year, $1.55 million deal.
- Brian Dumoulin signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Devils also locked in several players:
- Dennis Cholowski re-signed for one year at $775,000 and is expected to be a key part of the blue line.
- Jake Allen surprisingly re-signed for five years at $9 million to remain the team’s backup goalie.
- Marc McLaughlin re-signed for one year at $775,000.
- Cody Glass signed a two-year, $5 million deal , one of the Devils’ biggest offseason moves.
Other moves included:
- Samuel Laberge to the San Jose Sharks (one year, $775,000).
- Tory Dello to HC Energie Karlovy Vary in Czechia.
- Nolan Foote signed with the Florida Panthers, but likely to play with their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
- Isaac Poulter signed with the Winnipeg Jets.
Now, only Luke Hughes and Max Willman remain unsigned.
General manager Tom Fitzgerald has called re-signing Hughes his “number one priority” and there’s every expectation a deal will be completed before the season starts.
Willman’s future is less certain. He posted 30 points in 69 games for Utica last season but remains an unrestricted free agent with no clear destination.
Fitzgerald has wrapped up nearly all the offseason business, but one big contract remains before the puck drops on October 9th, 2025.