Devils acquire Luke Evangelista in Eastern Conference trade

Conditional first-round pick and 2028 second go to Nashville

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 31 min read

What happened: New Jersey added the 24-year-old winger from Nashville. The deal sends a conditional first-round selection via Colorado and New Jersey's 2028 second-round pick to the Predators.

Why it matters: Evangelista gives the Devils another top-nine wing option after they finished 12 points outside the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot in 2025-26. Nashville gains draft capital and opens additional forward ice time.

By the numbers: Evangelista recorded 12 goals and a He has one season left on a contract carrying a $3 million average annual value before restricted free agency after 2026-27.

What to watch: How New Jersey deploys Evangelista in its forward group will come into focus during training camp. Nashville's resulting lineup openings will also be watched ahead of 2026-27.

Sources

Yahoo Sports 2026-09-03T11:38:40.141053+00:00

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