Devils News

BREAKING: Devils Trade Erik Haula to Predators, Begin Clearing Cap Space

The Devils gain $3.15 million in cap space as the NHL Draft and Free Agency draw closer.

Published

4 weeks ago

June 18, 2025

New Jersey Devils' left wing Erik Haula (56) celebrates after a goal with teammates against the Ottawa Senators during second-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

The New Jersey Devils trade forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators in exchange for their fourth-round pick in 2025 and defenseman Jeremy Hanzel.

Haula’s full no-trade clause downgrades to a six-team no-trade clause on July 1st. Thus, Haula had to waive to approve the deal in advance of the contractual change.

By trading Haula, the Devils gain $3.15 million in cap space.

Haula’s Devils tenure ends after three seasons in New Jersey. The Finnish forward scored 41 goals and 97 points in 225 regular season games playing for the Devils. He also chipped in four goals and seven points in 17 playoff games for New Jersey.

The Devils now hold $14,394,167 in cap space with pending restricted free agents Luke Hughes and Cody Glass needing new deals. Jake Allen is a pending unrestricted free agent.

With the additional fourth-round pick they just retrieved, the Devils hold seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: two in the second round (NJ and Edm. via Utah), one in the third (VGK), two in the fourth (NJ and recently acquired from Nsh.), and two in the sixth (NJ and SJ).

Hanzel, 22, played for the the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) and Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) last season, Nashville’s minor-league affiliates. He registered two penalty minutes in four games with the Admirals and three goals and 19 assists for 22 points with 28 penalty minutes for the Gladiators. He appeared in four regular season games (0g-2a, 2 PIM) and one Calder Cup playoff game (PIM) with the Admirals in 2023-24, following the completion of his junior career.

The Predators acquired Hanzel from Colorado on March 7, 2024, with the Avalanche’s third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for forward Yakov Trenin and defenseman Graham Sward. He was initially drafted by Colorado in the sixth round, 187th overall, of the 2023 NHL Draft.

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