In one week, NHL free agency opens, and changes are expected for the New Jersey Devils as general manager Tom Fitzgerald looks to provide his coaching staff with an improved roster come September.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe led his team to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs but was eliminated in Game 5 of Round 1 at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Devils' core of Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier remain under contract. Still, Fitzgerald will once again scour both the trade and open market for the right complementary pieces.
Here is everything you need to know about next week:
When Does The NHL Draft & Free Agency Take Place?
The NHL Draft will be held later this week on June 27 and June 28, 2025, and will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
New Jersey's first-round pick now belongs to the Calgary Flames as the result of the trade that sent goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the Devils in exchange for defenseman Kevin Bahl and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).
The NHL announced the order of selection for the draft, with New Jersey selecting at 50, 63 (from EDM via UTA), 90 (from VGK), 99 (from NSH), 114, 161 (from SJS), and 178.
The 2025 NHL free agency market will open at noon ET on Tuesday, July 1.
How Much Cap Room Do The Devils Have To Work With?
On June 18, the Devils cleared $3.15 million off the cap by trading veteran Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators.
New Jersey currently has $14,394,167 to work with, and three restricted free agents, including Luke Hughes (21), Cody Glass (26), and Nolan Foote (24).
Which Devils' Players Are Unrestricted Free Agents?
Forwards: Nathan Bastian (27), Justin Dowling (34), Curtis Lazar (30), and Daniel Sprong (28).
Defensemen: Brian Dumoulin (33)
Goaltenders: Jake Allen (34)
What Offseason Moves Have The Devils Made So Far?
- Signed forward Arseniy Gritsyuk to a one-year, entry-level contract starting in 2025-26.
- Signed forward Lenni Hameenaho to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.
- Parted ways with Assistant Coaches Ryan McGill and Chris Taylor.
- Pending unrestricted free agent, Tomas Tatar signed overseas in Switzerland.
- Added Brad Shaw to coaching staff.
- Signed forward Juho Lammikko to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800,000.
- Haula was traded to the Predators for defenseman Jeremy Hanzel and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
With regards to the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets:
- Re-signed forward Nathan Légaré to a one-year, two-way contract.
- Defenseman Santeri Hatakka signed a two-year contract with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League.
- Forward Filip Engaras signed with Södertälje SK in Sweden.
- Parted ways with Head Video Coach Jerry Dineen and Utica Comets Assistant Coach David Cunniff.
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