Stay Informed on Devils Free Agency | NOTEBOOK

The Devils’ offseason is underway, and the roster will continue to take shape throughout the summer.

From free-agent signings and contract updates to trades, qualifying offers, roster decisions and player reaction, this notebook will serve as a running home for the latest Devils offseason news. Check back regularly for updates, quotes and analysis as New Jersey continues preparing for the 2026-27 season.

Devils Free Agent Tracker

New Signings from Other Teams
F Riley Tufte – Signed, 1 year, $850K
D Vladislav Kolyachonok – Signed, 1 year, $850K
G David Rittich – Signed 1 year, $1M

Devils Internal Signings
F Arseny Gritsyuk – Signed, 3 years, $3.25M AAV
C Nico Hischier – Signed, 5 years, $11.7M AAV
G Nico Daws – Signed, 2 years, $1.1M AAV
F Marc McLaughlin – Signed, 1 year, two-way
F Xavier Parent – Signed, 1 year, two-way
F Amadeus Lombardi – Signed 2 years

Group 2 / Restricted Free Agents
G Jakub Malek - Signed, two-year 
F Ben Steeves - Signed, one-year, two-way
D Topias Vilen

Not Qualified / Unrestricted Free Agents
D Calen Addison
G Tyler Brennan
F Paul Cotter – Signed with Vancouver
F Dylan Wendt

Group 3 / Unrestricted Free Agents
D Dennis Cholowski – Signed with NY Rangers
F Evgenii Dadonov
F Mike Hardman
F Brian Halonen – Signed with Boston
F Zack MacEwen – Signed with Toronto
F Ryan Schmelzer - Re-signed with Utica
D Colton White - Signed with Columbus

Group 6 / Unrestricted Free Agents
F Jonathan Gruden
F Nathan Légaré

Pending
C Barrett Hayton – Signed to Devils offer sheet, 1 year, $4.775M; Utah has until July 8 to match

DEVILS NOW: Mehta's Vision

Sunny Mehta's vision for the New Jersey Devils is no longer just an idea. It's starting to take shape after a flurry of moves leading up to and on the opening of Free Agency.

The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has re-signed goaltender Jakub Malek to a two-year contract. 

Malek, 24, split last season between Utica (AHL, 31 games, 13-14-5 record, .895 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average, with three shutouts) and Adirondack (ECHL, two games, 1-0-1, .930 save percentage, 1.91 GAA).

After signing his two-year, entry-level deal with New Jersey on May 30, 2024, he was loaned to Ilves in the Liiga (Finland) for the 2024-25 season. He played in 33 games, with a 15-11-6 record, a 2.09 GAA and a .910 save percentage with four shutouts.

In 2023-24, Malek completed his second season with Ilves and recorded a 16-4-5 record. The 6’4”, 190lbs. goaltender recorded a 2.32 goals-against average (GAA), a .915 save percentage, and earned two shutouts. Malek was one of eight Liiga netminders who recorded 16 or more wins in 2023-24, and his .915 save percentage ranked sixth in the league. He also helped Ilves earn a postseason berth and posted a 1.87 GAA and .910 save percentage in three playoff games.

The New Jersey Devils have re-signed forward Ben Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract. 

Steeves was originally acquired by New Jersey from Florida on June 30, 2026, with forwards Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist in exchange for goaltender Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank. Steeves had been tendered a qualifying offer by Florida on Monday, June 29, prior to the trade.

Devils Add Veteran Goaltender David Rittich

The Devils added another veteran option to their goaltending group, signing David Rittich to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million.

Rittich, 33, spent last season with the New York Islanders, appearing in 30 games and making 28 starts. He posted a 14-10-3 record, a 2.76 goals-against average, a .894 save percentage and two shutouts. It marked the fourth straight season, and seventh time in his NHL career, that Rittich has played at least 20 games.

The 6-foot-3 netminder gives New Jersey an experienced presence in net after the Devils traded Jacob Markstrom to Florida earlier this week. Rittich has appeared in 260 career NHL games over 10 seasons with Calgary, Toronto, Nashville, Winnipeg, Los Angeles and the Islanders, with a 122-81-29 record, a 2.79 GAA, .903 save percentage and nine shutouts.

His best NHL season came with Calgary in 2018-19, when he went 27-9-5 with a 2.61 GAA and .911 save percentage in 45 games. He also represented the Flames at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.

Rittich joins a Devils goaltending picture that also includes Jake Allen and Nico Daws, giving New Jersey additional NHL experience and depth as the club continues shaping its roster for the 2026-27 season.

Lombardi Agrees to Terms with Devils

The Devils have inked forward Amadeus Lombardi to a two-year contract, keeping one of their recent depth additions in the organization.

Lombardi’s deal is a two-way contract in 2026-27, worth $850,000 at the NHL level and $175,000 at the AHL level, before becoming a one-way contract worth $900,000 in 2027-28.

New Jersey acquired Lombardi from Detroit on June 25 in exchange for the Devils’ fourth-round pick, 108th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old center has spent the past three seasons with Grand Rapids in the American Hockey League, where he produced 42 points in 47 games last season after posting 40 points in 44 games in 2024-25.

Lombardi has 109 points in 163 career AHL regular-season games and has also appeared in the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his three professional seasons. Before turning pro, he had a standout final OHL season with Flint, recording 102 points in 67 games in 2022-23.

Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said Lombardi was more than simply a depth addition. He was a player the organization specifically targeted.

“Yes, it’s depth,” Mehta said. “But to me, it’s more than that because it’s also a bet on him being much more than depth. We feel there’s upside there.”

Mehta pointed to Lombardi as an example of the type of player the Devils are looking to identify: young, productive and with potential room to grow.

“He was dynamic in the AHL,” Mehta said. “Those are the kinds of bets that we want to make on some of these players.”

The signing gives the Devils another young forward with production at the AHL level and a player the organization believes may still have another step in his game.

Mehta Talks Hughes Line, Team Identity and Draft Approach

Sunny Mehta’s first few months as Devils general manager have already included several major roster decisions, but not every move is being viewed through the lens of filling one exact spot.

Asked specifically about how the Devils might fill out Jack Hughes’ line, Mehta said the final decision will ultimately belong to head coach Sheldon Keefe. But from a management perspective, Mehta said the Devils are not necessarily building the roster by targeting one specific type of player for one specific role.

“We just really want to fill up our roster with the best players,” Mehta said. “We want to just get the best players at the best prices to fit under the cap and give ourselves the best sort of chance to win.”

That does not mean style and fit are ignored, but Mehta pushed back on the idea that the Devils need to find one particular player to play with Hughes.

“There hasn’t necessarily been a real specific, concerted effort to be like, ‘We have to find this particular player to play with Jack,’” Mehta said. “Jack’s a great player… Jack can play with anybody. Good players can play with pretty much anybody.”

Mehta also touched on the Devils’ overall identity. While he said there are different ways to win in the NHL, he acknowledged that New Jersey’s current core naturally leans toward a fast, skilled game.

“We are who we are, to a large extent,” Mehta said. “We have a lot of speed. We have a lot of skill… Our best players are really fast, and they’re really skilled. So I’d be surprised if stylistically we didn’t look like that on the ice next year.”

The same broader philosophy applied at the draft. When asked about selecting Alexander Command at 12th overall, Mehta said the Devils had him right in that range and were thrilled to land him.

“He was the guy that we wanted the most at that spot,” Mehta said. “We had a very kind of methodical process in place, combining our amateur scouting department, as well as our analytics department.”

Command spent time at Devils development camp this week, giving Mehta a chance to sit down with him and talk through what may come next. The organization will offer guidance, but Mehta said the final call on his path belongs to the player.

“I don’t think it’s certain yet exactly what he’s going to do next season,” Mehta said. “Ultimately, he’s got to decide for himself. It’s his career. It’s an important decision for him.”

Grits Being Grits

There was contract talk, offseason talk and plenty of hockey talk.

But mostly, Arseny Gritsyuk’s Zoom with reporters was a reminder of something Devils fans already learned last season: Grits is funny.

The newly re-signed Devils forward opened the call by politely asking everyone to take it easy on him.

“Can you speak little bit slowly, please?” Gritsyuk said with a laugh. “Because I don’t practice my English three months, and now hard time for me.”

From there, the call quickly became part contract update, part comedy routine.

Asked about New Jersey traffic, Gritsyuk had a surprising answer. He likes it. Or, at least, he likes it compared to Moscow.

“In Moscow, it’s big traffic jam,” he said. “In New Jersey, it’s a little bit easier.”

Amanda Stein also became his unofficial translator during the call, which led to one of the best moments of the morning. When she jumped in to help clarify a question, Gritsyuk immediately lit up.

“Oh, Amanda!” he said.

He also had some fun with Connor Brown. While talking about Evan Rodrigues, Gritsyuk compared him to Brown, then immediately realized Brown might have something to say about it.

“Connor Brown so fast. Yeah, I know. He’s read me, and now he’s text me about his skating,” Gritsyuk joked. He later added that whenever he says “bad words” about Brown, Brown texts him: “Why you say this? It’s not true.”

Gritsyuk also gave a great answer about first joining the Devils and being around players he had previously only used in video games.

“I play for everybody guys, this on PlayStation, and now I sit on one table with them,” he said.

And when asked what he misses most about New Jersey while spending the summer back home, Gritsyuk went with a local staple and a very specific food craving.

“My favorite places to visit, I think, is like Top’s Diner,” he said. “I miss American meat. No, meat steak. Steak.”

He then gave a special shoutout to Dallas for the best steak he has had, before wondering if it tasted better because Evgenii Dadonov paid for it.

That’s Grits. Honest, funny, unfiltered and already looking forward to getting back.

“Jack Hughes, I miss him,” Gritsyuk said. “Hey, let’s go.”

Hischier Commits to Devils with Five-Year Extension

Nico Hischier has always made it clear that New Jersey means more to him than just the place he plays.

Now, the Devils captain has committed to keeping it that way.

The New Jersey Devils announced Tuesday that Hischier has agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension worth $58.5 million, carrying an average annual value of $11.7 million. The deal begins with the 2027-28 season and keeps one of the franchise’s foundational players in New Jersey long term.

“Jersey’s been home for me,” Hischier said after the deal was announced. “I’m super excited that we got to an agreement here, and now we’ll get back to work.”

Hischier, 27, is coming off another strong season with the Devils. He appeared in all 82 games, recording 66 points with 28 goals and 38 assists. His 28 goals led New Jersey, while his 1,008 faceoff wins led the NHL and set a Devils franchise record for most faceoff wins in a single season.

But for Hischier, the decision to stay was about more than numbers. Since being drafted first overall by the Devils in 2017, he has become one of the faces of the franchise and, since 2021, its captain.

“I was always interested in coming back,” Hischier said. “I want to be part of the solution and not a runaway. That was very important for me.”

That message was consistent throughout Hischier’s media availability. He spoke about his belief in the organization, the importance of showing his teammates he wants to be in New Jersey, and the unfinished business he feels remains.

“It was important to show my teammates that I want to be a New Jersey Devil,” Hischier said. “I want to turn the ship around here and I don’t want to leave.”

Hischier already ranks among the top players in Devils history, entering the 2026-27 season with 199 career goals and 488 career points. His 199 goals rank fifth in franchise history, while his 488 points rank sixth.

Still, his focus remains on what comes next.

“My biggest goal is winning a Cup with New Jersey, and that hasn’t changed,” Hischier said. “My biggest goal was always winning a Cup with the team that drafts me.”

Devils Sign Hayton to Offer Sheet

The Devils made one of the more interesting moves of free agency, signing Utah restricted free agent Barrett Hayton to a one-year offer sheet.

Now, the decision shifts to Utah.

Hayton signed a one-year deal worth $4.775 million, putting Utah in position to either match the contract and keep him, or decline and receive draft-pick compensation from New Jersey. They have seven days to match.

For the Devils, it’s a calculated swing at a player who fits a clear need. Hayton is 26 years old, can play center or wing, and gives New Jersey another forward with size, versatility and experience. He was originally selected fifth overall by Arizona in the 2018 NHL Draft and has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes/Utah.

Hayton’s best offensive season came in 2024-25, when he scored 20 goals and finished with 46 points. Last season, he had 10 goals and 25 points in 67 games.

The one-year term is what makes this especially interesting. It gives the Devils a chance to add a useful middle-six forward without a long-term commitment, while also putting Utah in a position where they can't trade the player for a year due to the offer sheet, potentially walking him to unrestricted free agency next summer.

Rodrigues Excited to Join “Dangerous” Devils Group

Evan Rodrigues didn’t need much time to see the opportunity in New Jersey.

The veteran forward was acquired by the Devils on Monday as part of the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank to the Florida Panthers, with New Jersey receiving Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves in return. Rodrigues joins the Devils after two Stanley Cup-winning seasons in Florida and brings a blend of experience, versatility and playoff-tested habits to New Jersey’s forward group.

“I think it was excitement,” Rodrigues said of learning he had been traded to New Jersey. “This is a group that has a lot of guys right in their prime and a group that could be very dangerous and very scary for opponents to play against.”

Rodrigues, 32, posted 31 points with 11 goals and 20 assists in 69 games for Florida last season. He has played 616 career regular-season NHL games with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Florida, totaling 270 points, and has added 41 points in 61 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

What he hopes to bring to New Jersey is straightforward.

“Just a guy who brings it every night and can play anywhere in the lineup and can play power play and penalty kill,” Rodrigues said. “I just hope to bring that work ethic, that leadership to this group and just contribute in any way I can.”

That championship experience could be particularly valuable for a Devils team looking to take a step forward. Rodrigues said the biggest lessons from Florida centered on consistency, buy-in and daily habits.

“When everyone’s on the same page and buying into the plan, it’s easy to get things rolling and keep things rolling,” he said. “There can’t be any days off.”

Rodrigues also believes his game should fit well with the Devils’ identity.

“They play a fast, up-tempo style of game,” he said. “It’s quick. It’s in your face, and it’s something that can put teams on their heels and really wear teams down.”

Rodrigues has familiarity with new Devils GM Sunny Mehta from their time in Florida, and said that relationship should help ease the transition. He also has existing connections in the Devils room, including Dougie Hamilton, Connor Brown and Stefan Noesen whom he all played with or against growing up.

“When Sunny called, he mentioned that he wanted me and wanted me to be part of this team,” Rodrigues said. “It’s always a nice feeling as a player when somebody wants you and goes out of their way to get you. So, I’ll look to prove him right and show this city what I can do.”

Boqvist Returns to Devils with Championship Experience

Jesper Boqvist is back where his NHL career began, and he is bringing something new with him.

The New Jersey Devils acquired Boqvist from the Florida Panthers on Monday, along with Evan Rodrigues and Ben Steeves, in exchange for Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank. Boqvist returns to New Jersey after spending the past two seasons in Florida, where he was part of the Panthers’ 2025 Stanley Cup championship team.

“Obviously, happy it was Jersey,” Boqvist said of learning he had been traded. “Excited to be back.”

Boqvist, 27, was originally selected by the Devils in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft. He played four seasons with New Jersey from 2019-20 through 2022-23, recording 55 points with 28 goals and 27 assists in 189 regular-season games. He has played 387 career NHL games, totaling 105 points.

His time away from New Jersey, however, helped round out his game. Boqvist said fans may notice “a little bit of everything” has improved, especially after playing in Florida’s heavier, championship-style environment.

“Playing in Florida for two years, a little bit more physical game than I’ve been playing before,” Boqvist said. “Maybe that’s something extra that I will bring with me.”

The experience of playing deep into the playoffs is also something Boqvist believes he can carry back into the Devils’ locker room.

“Playing those big, high-pressure games, you learn a lot from that,” he said. “Keep that patience in the game, trust what you do, trust what you can do.”

Boqvist returns to a Devils team that still includes familiar faces, including Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and several others from his first stint with the organization. From afar, he said he saw a group that continued to grow.

“They’ve been growing a lot and how they can dominate games,” Boqvist said. “They’re so hard to play against, and so I’m happy to be back on the same side as them.”

He was especially happy to see Hischier commit long term to New Jersey with his new contract extension.

“So happy for him,” Boqvist said. “Couldn’t have happened to a better person, for sure.”

Boqvist also comes back alongside Rodrigues, his former Panthers teammate. He described Rodrigues as a smart, versatile player who can fit almost anywhere in a lineup.

“He could play with anyone,” Boqvist said. “He was such an important piece in Florida, and I’m sure he will be that in Jersey as well.”

For Boqvist, the return is both familiar and different. He knows the organization, knows many of the people, and now knows what it takes to win.

“Winning is hard,” Boqvist said. “It’s a grind, and you have to stick with it and work through it.”