The New Jersey Devils have signed one of their new acquisitions to a long-term deal.
Forward Luke Evangelista has agreed to a five-year, $36.2-million extension ($7.25 million AAV) that will keep him under contract until the conclusion of the 2031-32 season.
The Devils acquired forward Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators on Sept. 1 in exchange for a conditional 2028 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Evangelista is entering the final season of a two-year, $6-million contract ($3 million AAV) and was set to become a restricted free agent next summer.
According to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, more than 60% of this extension will be paid in signing bonuses, which wouldn't have been allowed if it wasn't registered minutes before midnight.
Evangelista scored 12 goals and put up career-bests in assists with 44 and points with 56 in the 2025-26 season.
The 24-year-old was a second-round pick, taken 42nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Predators and made his debut in the middle of the 2022-23 season, putting up 15 points in his first 24 NHL games. He then became a mainstay in Nashville's lineup over the past three seasons.
The Toronto native spent his junior hockey days with the London Knights before entering the NHL. In the 2021-22 season, Evangelista led the OHL in goals with 55 and finished fourth in scoring with 111 points in only 62 games.
The Devils finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 42-37-3 record and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons.