The New Jersey Devils have secured Luke Evangelista on a five-year contract that will keep the right winger in the organization through the 2031-32 season, the team announced late Tuesday night.
Evangelista, 24, was acquired by New Jersey on Sept. 1 in a trade with the Nashville Predators. The return sent the Colorado Avalanche’s 2028 first-round pick, with conditions, and New Jersey’s 2028 second-round pick to Nashville.
The new deal begins in 2027-28 and is worth $36.25 million in total, with an average annual value of $7.25 million. Evangelista will play the 2026-27 season on the current contract he signed with the Predators, which carries a $3 million cap hit.
The structure of the agreement is heavily front-loaded. He’ll earn $9.7 million in the first year of the extension, followed by $8.26 million in year two, $6.12 million in year three, and $6.085 million in each of the final two seasons.
The Devils did not land an eight-year contract, which would have needed to be completed before Tuesday’s CBA deadline blocked that length of deal. A seven-year contract remained available within the organization, while six-year deals were still possible for free agents after Tuesday.
Across four NHL seasons, the Toronto native has 45 goals and 97 assists for 142 points in 253 regular-season games. Last season was his best yet, as he finished with 12 goals, 44 assists and 56 points in 81 games.
Before reaching the NHL, Evangelista put up 78 goals and 96 assists for 174 points in 151 OHL games. He capped that run with an 111-point season for the London Knights, where he served as captain, before moving on to the pro game.
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