Evangelista wants taste of Devils home playoff game after trade from Predators

Luke Evangelista has seen and heard on TV what Prudential Center is like during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and now the newest member of the New Jersey Devils wants to experience it in person. 

"Just absolutely rocking," Evangelista said of the New Jersey Devils home arena on Thursday. "I would love to get a taste of that."

That opportunity became possible Tuesday when the forward was traded to the Devils from the Nashville Predators for a conditional first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. 

Although the trade caught the 24-year-old by surprise, Evangelista's initial shock has quickly been replaced by excitement about joining a talented New Jersey roster.

"I'm so excited about the idea of coming to Jersey, playing for an elite squad, and making a playoff push," Evangelista said. "It's been an absolute whirlwind for sure, but super excited to get down there and kind of get to learn the city and meet all the boys."

Evangelista had spent the offseason just outside Toronto preparing to return to Nashville. He was ready to head to Music City when his agent called with news that his immediate future had become uncertain.

"I was all packed up and I was actually headed to Nashville (Wednesday) morning, and then my agent gave me maybe an hour-and-a-half heads up that something might be going down and to stay by the phone," he said.

Conversations with Devils new general manager Sunny Mehta and coach Sheldon Keefe helped Evangelista begin processing the change. Mehta explained the organization's philosophy and indicated Evangelista fit the profile of an under-the-radar acquisition who could provide significant value.

"It feels really good to be wanted," Evangelista said. "He seems super excited about it."

Evangelista is another skilled player in a lineup already built around speed, creativity and offensive depth. He established NHL career highs with 44 assists and 56 points and scored 12 goals in 81 games for Nashville last season.

His ability to create scoring opportunities could complement forwards such as Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.

"I take pride in making my linemates better and trying to put them in good spots and good positions and help them succeed," he said. "With the elite talent and the elite hockey IQ in the lineup, I feel like I have a chance to kind of blend in well with the group and just try to elevate everyone else's game."

The Devils went 42-37-3 last season, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They averaged 2.76 goals per game last season, which was 27th in the League. 

Having competed against New Jersey, Evangelista appreciates the challenges the Devils' offensive balance can present.

"You try and shut down the Hughes line and then you got Hischier rolling out right after them," Evangelista said. "The depth, just in my eyes, is super impressive. Being able to roll four lines, I think that's a huge asset to a team."

Evangelista is not arriving in New Jersey believing his role has already been determined. He said Mehta and Keefe did not discuss specific responsibilities during their initial conversations. Instead, Evangelista intends to use training camp to earn his opportunity.

"My job is to come into camp and play the way I can and kind of earn whatever I'm given," he said. "So that's kind of my mentality on it."

While Evangelista has established himself as a responsible, productive 200-foot forward, he believes there is another level he can reach offensively. His primary offseason focus has been improving his goal-scoring ability and becoming more than a pass-first threat.

"I hit my stride as a playmaker, and I pride myself on that vision and the hockey IQ, setting my teammates up for success," Evangelista said. "But I feel like becoming that dual threat, being able to have that playmaking option as well as being a threat to put the puck in the net, I think that's just going to elevate my game."

The transition should be made easier by several familiar names on the Devils roster. Evangelista trains with Connor Brown during the offseason and spent multiple seasons with Cody Glass in Nashville (2022-24). 

"I've trained with him the past two or three summers in Toronto so I know him pretty well," Brown told NHL Network Radio. "He's a great kid and really silky smooth player. I haven't really watched him too close in his time with Nashville but just seeing him in the summer, he's got high-end skill and it kind of fits the bill to what we're building here."

Glass was the first player Evangelista called after learning about the trade.

"I was pumped to get the chance to play with him again," Evangelista said. "I've heard from almost the whole team. Everyone's been super welcoming."

Selected by Nashville in the second round (No. 42) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Evangelista has 142 points (45 goals, 97 assists) in 253 regular-season games. He also has one goal in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Evangelista is entering the second season of a two-year, $6 million contract and can become a restricted free agent after this season. Any discussion about his next contract, however, can wait.

"My job is to just kind of focus on the play," Evangelista said. "Do I think I can find a home here in New Jersey? I'm super excited about it. I feel like my style of game blends in really well with the rest of the roster."