After two up-and-down seasons in Edmonton, Connor Brown will leave the Oilers after signing a four-year deal worth $3.0M AAV ($12.0M total) with New Jersey on Tuesday. The 31-year-old is entering his 11th NHL season after putting up 13 goals, 30 points and a +9 plus/minus in 82 games played in 2024-25.
New Jersey has locked up their backup netminder for the next five seasons after signing Jake Allen to a five-year, $9 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV) just hours before the free agency deadline. The 34-year-old netminder is entering his third season in New Jersey after posting a 13-16-1 record with a .908 SV% and 2.66 GAA while backing up Jacob Markstrom in 2024-25.
Hanzel was a sixth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2023 and was traded to Nashville in March of 2024 as part of the deal that sent Yakov Trenin to Colorado. The 22-year-old defenseman had 22 points (3G / 19A) in 61 ECHL games during the 2024-25 season.
After three seasons in Switzerland, Juho Lammikko is returning to the NHL with New Jersey after signing a one-year, $800,000 contract on Sunday. The 28-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 75 games played. He is expected to compete for a roster spot come the 2025-26 season.
Brown missed the final two games of the Western Conference Final with an undisclosed injury and has recently been dealing with an illness. Despite missing Tuesday's practice, Brown will play in Game 1 on Wednesday. He's had a strong postseason so far, scoring five goals with three assists (eight points) in 14 games.
Brown missed the final two games of the Western Conference Final with an undisclosed injury and has recently been dealing with an illness. Despite missing Tuesday's practice, the Oilers expect Brown to play in Game 1 on Wednesday. He's had a strong postseason so far, scoring five goals with three assists (eight points) in 14 games.
Brown had missed Edmonton's previous two games with an undisclosed injury but announced Sunday he is good to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final after being a full participant in practice. The 31-year-old right-winger has taken a massive step forward this post-season with five goals, eight points and 21 SOG through 14 games before his injury.
Brown missed Edmonton's Game 4 victory due to an undisclosed injury and is expected to remain out for Game 5 on Thursday in Dallas. The 31-year-old right-winger has taken a much-needed step forward in the 2024-25 playoffs with five goals, eight points and 21 SOG in 14 games played.
Brown will miss at least one game with the undisclosed injury that forced him to leave Game 3 early. It's unclear who will replace Brown in the lineup on Tuesday, because Mattias Ekholm is a game-time decision and could dress at the seventh defenseman.
Brown did not take part in Friday's morning skate but he'll remain in the lineup for Game 2 in Dallas. Brown played 13:48 TOI after being a game-time decision in Game 1.
Lagare spent the majority of the 2024-25 season with Utica (AHL), earning himself a one-year, two-way contract after scoring 17 goals and 25 points in 69 games played. The 24-year-old winger also made his NHL debut in 2024-25, but failed to pick up a point in any of the three games he appeared in.
Hameenaho was New Jersey's 2023 2nd-round pick (58th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on Thursday. The 20-year-old Finnish right-winger spent 2024-25 with Assat of Liiga and had 20 goals, 51 points, and 28 PIMs in 58 games played.
Kovacvic's first season in New Jersey will end in an unfortunate but memorable fashion after he underwent successful knee surgery on Wednesday. He is not expected to be fully recovered by the time the 2025-26 training camp rolls around. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defenseman had a goal, 17 points and a +10 plus/minus through 81 games played in 2024-25.
Gritsyuk was a fifth-round pick in 2019 and will join the Devils organization in 2025-26 after five seasons in the KHL. Gritsyuk had a career-high 44 points (17G / 27A) in 49 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season.
Bratt showed no signs of an ailment in the playoffs, playing all five games in New Jersey's round one loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but underwent shoulder surgery. He is expected to be back for the beginning of training camp. The 26-year-old Bratt had an excellent season, scoring a career-high 88 points (21G / 67A) in 81 games. He has become a picture of consistency for the Devils, scoring 317 points (106G / 211A) in 321 games over the previous four seasons.
Hughes suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 1 of the playoffs and did not play the remaininder of the series. He underwent successful shoulder surgery and will likely be ready for the beginning of training camp. The 21-year-old Hughes had an impressive 2024-25 campaign with 44 points (7G / 37A) in 71 games.
Cholowski will be the odd-man out on New Jersey's blue-line as they look to shake things up in hopes of staving off elimination on Tuesday. Seamus Casey will play in his place.
Casey will slot into the Devils lineup for Game 5 as they look to shake things up in hopes of staving off elimination on Tuesday. Dennis Cholowski will sit in his place.
