New Jersey Devils

Devils Free Agent Primer: Cap Space, Needs & Projections

With the 2025 NHL Free Agent Frenzy just hours away, here’s a primer on the New Jersey Devils’ cap space, needs, and projections.

Published

2 weeks ago

July 1, 2025

James Nichols

The 2025 NHL Free Agent frenzy is just three hours away. The New Jersey Devils certainly have work to do after their 2024-25 finish. So, where do they currently stand before the signing window opens today at noon?

I’m not going to lie to you. Mum’s the word in New Jersey.

And I’m not the only one on the inside who is hearing crickets when it comes to the Devils’ plans. They’re either keeping things incredibly close to the vest, or… well, you can guess what the dark alternative is.

Let’s look ahead.

Devils RFA & UFAs

Yesterday, the Devils extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Luke Hughes and Cody Glass. Hughes is expected to receive a significant raise from his entry-level contract. Glass, however, could accept his qualifying offer and play for $2.5 million for another year.

The Devils did not extend qualifying offers to Nolan Foote or Isaac Poulter. They’ll walk into unrestricted free agency in just a few hours. Santeri Hatakka was also set to become an NHL unrestricted free agent, yet signed a contract overseas earlier this year.

As of this morning, Jake Allen has yet to sign a deal with the Devils. However, there’s been positive progress in negotiations and there is optimism he could stay. Allen’s undoubtedly the top goaltender in the UFA pool, so we’ll see what contract details emerge is he’s retained.

It appears Brian Dumoulin, Curtis Lazar, Nathan Bastian, Daniel Sprong, and Justin Dowling will head to market.

Devils Needs

Free agency is going to be… interesting this year. It’s a bleak pool of players after the crop of UFAs began to evaporate on Monday. It was a big day for teams keeping their own, and a lot of them did.

The Florida Panthers (somehow) locked in their big three free agents. Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad are all staying in Sunrise. Patrick Kane returned to the Detroit Red Wings late last night. Mitch Marner (although still unofficial) signed an eight-year deal and was then traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Claude Giroux is staying in Ottawa.

Heck, who is left?

For starters, the Devils need to fill out their bottom-six, who underperformed in 2024-25. As of now, it’s Glass, Paul Cotter, Juho Lammikko, Kurtis MacDermid, and then to be determined.

That certainly won’t cut it.

Plus, the Devils still need a top-six scorer. That’s something they haven’t replaced since trading Tyler Toffoli two deadlines ago.

The UFA pool is thin, but GM Tom Fitzgerald has some options to try to lure to New Jersey.

Top Targets

The top free agent, who also fits the description of “Devils Needs,” is Nikolaj Ehlers. Also heading to market appears to be Brock Boeser. Mikael Granlund is perhaps the next-best forward on the UFA market before a pretty significant drop off.

Then you have Jonathan Drouin, Pius Suter, Jack Roslovic and Andrew Mangiapane who are all a tier or two after the aforementioned.

Maybe this is the year the Devils utilize offer sheets, eh? Maybe a trade or two?

Devils Cap Space

Going into noon, the Devils will have $14,394,167 in available cap space. Before you become excited, remember a healthy portion of that available space will go towards an extension for Luke Hughes.

As of now, here’s what the Devils’ lineup looks like: