Free-agent focus on New Jersey Devils

D Luke Hughes – Hughes is one of the top pending restricted free agents in the NHL, and the expectation is that the organization will do everything it can to lock up the defender before he reaches free agency. However, with just a projected $12M in cap space, Hughes is expected to command a significant portion of that figure. In 71 games on the year, the 21-year-old essentially mirrored his rookie season production with seven goals and 44 points. New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald recently discussed the team’s urgency to resign Hughes, stating, “We’re just trying to figure out what’s best for Luke and for us and how do we make our team better with the funds that we have available… Both parties are in agreement… We’re going to get this done.” Now, the key questions are when the deal will be finalized and what the annual price tag will look like.

F Cody Glass – After bouncing around the league the last several years, Glass is hoping to have found a home in New Jersey. After being acquired from division rival Penguins in a trade deadline move, Glass contributed seven points in 14 regular-season games for the Devils. However, he provided zero points in five playoff games. At just 25 years old, Glass brings a pedigree the Devils may be eager to develop further, especially given the affordable price tag he’s expected to carry. In 253 games, Glass has posted 35 goals and 93 points.

Other RFAs: F Nolan Foote, D Santeri Hatakka, G Isaac Poulter

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Brian Dumoulin – A veteran of over 700 NHL games, Dumoulin brought a steady, reliable presence to the Devils’ blue line following his arrival at the trade deadline. The two-time Stanley Cup champion may be past his prime, but Dumoulin can still provide a team with veteran leadership in a second- or third-pairing role. That said, ’Dumo’ has plenty of mileage on his body — he surpassed the 1,000 blocked shots mark this past season — which could make a team with limited cap space hesitant to offer a multi-year deal to an aging blueliner.

G Jake Allen – While the optics of a 13-16-1 record don’t look great for Allen, they don’t tell the whole story of his season. Serving as the backup to starter Jacob Markstrom, Allen posted a respectable .906 save percentage, slightly better than Markstrom’s .900 mark. Allen recorded four shutouts on the season and posted a 2.66 goals-against average, reinforcing his value as one of the league’s more dependable backup goaltenders. However, with Allen turning 35 next season and Nico Daws waiting in the wings, his services may no longer be needed in New Jersey. While Allen recently noted his preference would be to stay in New Jersey, he will command quite a bit of interest on the open market.

F Curtis Lazar – With five forwards set to earn $6 million or more next season, the Devils will need to find low-cost options to fill out their bottom six. That’s where a reunion with someone like Lazar may make sense for the team. Lazar had a tough season in 2024-25, posting just five points in 48 games. However, he’s just one year removed from a career-best 25 points and a plus-10 rating in his first season with New Jersey. His expiring contract carried a modest $1 million cap hit, and that number is likely to stay in the same range. If the Devils are looking for a low-cost, veteran presence, bringing Lazar or Nathan Bastian back into the fold could work well.

Other UFAs: F Justin Dowling, F Daniel Sprong, F Nathan Bastian, F Maxwell Willman, F Samuel Laberge, F Marc McLaughlin (UFA-Group6), D Dennis Cholowski, D Tory Dello

Projected Cap Space

The Devils don’t have much wiggle room this offseason. According to PuckPedia, the team has just over $12 million available for free agency, and if a deal with Hughes gets done, that amount will be significantly reduced. Unless Fitzgerald and the front office trade away one of their current high-paid players, they’ll have to get creative to fill out the depth on the squad. They may also lean toward giving more opportunities to promising young players, like the aforementioned Daws, who won’t take up much cap space.