New Jersey Devils Acquire Amadeus Lombardi

According to a team announcement, the New Jersey Devils have acquired forward prospect Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Lombardi is expected to become a restricted free agent in a few days without arbitration rights.

Lombardi, 23, was selected with the 113th overall pick by the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was coming off a solid year with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, scoring 18 goals and 59 points in 67 games. However, he exploded for offense in his post-draft season, registering 45 goals and 102 points in 67 games with a +23 rating. At the time, Lombardi was considered an up-and-coming prospect in the Red Wings’ pipeline.

Since then, Lombardi has spent his time with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, where he’s continued to grow into an efficient scorer. In his rookie season, he scored only five goals and recorded 26 points in 70 games, but he has since become a point-per-game player.

Over the past two years in Grand Rapids, Lombardi has recorded 35 goals and 82 points in 91 games, posting a -2 rating despite some injury concerns. Looking for additional scoring in their bottom-six, Lombardi should have every opportunity to crack New Jersey’s roster out of training camp next season.

Detroit has moved back into the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft to select the 108th overall pick. The Red Wings traded away their 2026 fourth-round pick last summer in a package for John Gibson, and that pick has now made its way to the Boston Bruins in the Jeffrey Viel trade. Given the number of prospects Detroit has that are similarly positioned as Lombardi, the Red Wings were willing to send him to New Jersey for a better opportunity.