Devils Are Addressing Depth Scoring in Free Agency

With the offseason in full swing, the New Jersey Devils have a laundry list of items to address. The organization has been busy so far, re-signing Jake Allen and Cody Glass, extending a qualifying offer to Luke Hughes, as well as adding a few new faces to the roster.

It’s no secret that the Devils struggled with secondary scoring all throughout last season, suffering from underperforming third and fourth lines. However, general manager Tom Fitzgerald delivered at the beginning of free agency, securing Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, Angus Crookshank, and Thomas Bordeleau. All four of these players can help bolster the Devils’ bottom-six by providing depth scoring.

Connor Brown: Consistency is Key

The Devils signed Brown to a four-year, $12 million contract on Tuesday. The 31-year-old is known for being a two-way depth winger, coming off of a fairly successful second season with the Edmonton Oilers. Brown earned 13 goals and 17 assists, marking his first 30-point campaign since the 2021-22 season. His goals for percentage (GF%) has been on the rise for three seasons straight, increasing by 27.94% in 5-on-5 scenarios. Brown’s versatility can add offensive contributions to the third or fourth line.

Brown also has significant playoff experience, including a strong track record on the penalty kill. He has made five playoff appearances throughout his career, including back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with the Oilers. During the playoffs this year, he recorded a career-high in blocked shots (11), shooting percentage (18.5%) and points per 60 minutes (1.72). He led Oilers forwards with 41:24 shorthanded ice time, contributing to the 67.1% penalty kill success rate during the postseason.

When asked about signing Brown, the organization had nothing but good things to say. “Brown is a guy who can move around your lineup. He gives you speed, fantastic penalty killer. He’s a guy that Sheldon [Keefe] will use at the end of games, like a Swiss jackknife,” said Fitzgerald. 

Evgenii Dadonov: Proven Goal Scorer

Dadonov is another fantastic addition to the Devils’ bottom-six. He can add both scoring and veteran presence, and his deal is a low-risk, high-reward scenario. The veteran wing signed a one-year contract worth $1 million, with performance bonuses available.

Last season, he reached 20 goals and finished with 40 total points. Dadonov was on the ice for 53 Dallas Stars goals, an 85.29% increase since the 2023-24 season. He had a 56.92 high-danger goals for percentage (HDGF%), along with a 12.48 on-ice shorthanded percentage (SH%). His performance in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs was also impressive. According to NHL Edge, Dadonov ranked in the 96th percentile for both neutral zone time and top skating speed.