Tatar will return to New Jersey on a one-year, $1.8 million contract for the 2024-25 season where he was a fan favourite after spending two seasons with the Devils between 2021 and 2023. The 34-year-old left-winger spent 2023-24 split between Colorado and Seattle and had nine goals, 24 points and 20 PIMs in 70 games played.
Seattle managed to clear up some defensive room on Tuesday by trading away Brian Dumoulin to Anaheim for a 2026 4th-round pick. The 32-year-old is entering his 12th NHL season and has 626 games played in his career. In 2023-24 he had six goals, 16 points and 20 PIMs in 80 games played.
Utica gained a strong defensive piece on Tuesday after New Jersey signed Colin White to a two-year, two-way deal. The 27-year-old defenseman has 10 points in 84 career NHL games but failed to make it to the big leagues in 2023-24 after collecting eight points in 53 games with San Diego (AHL).
After four seasons in the Blackhawks organization, Mike Hardman has signed a two-year, two-way deal with New Jersey. Hardman hasn't made an NHL appearance since 2022-23 with Chicago but has a goal and five points in 37 career NHL games played. In 63 games with Rockford (AHL) in 2023-24 he had 22 goals and 37 points in 63 games played.
New Jersey continued their impressive offseason by adding veteran defenseman Brenden Dillion to a three-year contract worth $12.0 million ($4.0M AAV). The 33-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season and is 108 games from the 1000 games played mark. In 2023-24 he had eight goals, 20 points, 92 PIMs and a +20 plus/minus in 77 games played with Winnipeg.
One of the biggest defensive pieces on the open market is gone early on Monday as New Jersey has signed nine-year veteran Brett Pesce to a six-year deal worth $33.0 million ($5.5M AAV). The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with Carolina and had three goals, 13 points and a +10 plus/minus in 70 games played last year.
Kovacevic is a solid two-way defenseman and penalty-killer who appeared in 62 games with the Canadiens last season. With the Devils reportedly interested in signing a couple free agent defensemen, Kovacevic could end up serving as the No.7 entering the season.
New Jersey made the first big splash of the offseason on Wednesday as they traded 23-year-old Kevin Bahl and their 2025 1st-round pick for goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Calgary will retain 31.25% of Markstrom's salary as an add-on in the deal, and a nice cherry on top for New Jersey. In 48 games played in 2023-24 with the Flames, Markstrom was 23-23-2 with a 2.78 GAA AND a .905 SV%.
Gruden appeared in a career-high 13 games played in 2023-24 and has signed a two-year, $1.550 Million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 24-year-old centre was drafted by Ottawa in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (95th overall) and has appeared in a total of 16 career NHL games played and has one goal, five PIMs and nine SOG.
Pesce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate but skated as an "extra," and is not yet ready for game action as he will sit out Game 6 on Thursday. The 29-year-old has only been able to compete in two playoff games so far this year and has an assist, one SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Halonen made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with New Jersey on Thursday. The 25-year-old undrafted left-winger appeared in two games for the Devils this season, failing to pick up a point with two SOG while averaging 8:17 TOI/GP.
Pesce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice but skated as an "extra," which suggests that he won't be available for Game 6 on Thursday. Monitor his status during Thursday's morning skate to get a concrete answer on his availability.
Legare was acquired mid-way through the season from Montreal for Arnaud Durandeau and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey into the 2024-25 season. The 23-year-old former captain of Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) finished his third season in the AHL in 2023-24 and had eight goals, and four assists in 54 games played this season with Laval and Utica.
Willman appeared in 18 games for New Jersey in 2023-24 and had three goals and four points to go along with 17 SOG and has signed a two-way, contract extension worth $775,000 on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has appeared in 68 games across three NHL seasons and has seven goals and 10 points.
Malek was New Jersey's 2021 fourth-round pick (100th overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 22-year-old goaltender is coming off his second season with Ilves (Liiga), where he posted an impressive 16-4-5 record, 2.32 GAA and .915 SV%.
Casey was New Jersey's 2022 fourth-round pick (46th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday worth $2.85 million ($950,000AAV). The 20-year-old defenseman just finished his Sophmore campaign with the University of Michigan (NCAA), and had seven goals and 45 points in 40 games played.
Pesce has been out since Game 2 due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least the first two games of Carolina's Round 2 series vs. New York. The 29-year-old picked up an assist, one SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through his two games played prior to his injury.
Pesce recently removed his walking boot but his status for Round 2 is still uncertain. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said the team remains hopeful that he'll play at some point vs. the Rangers. Look for Tony DeAngelo to remain his replacement in Game 1.
