New Jersey Devils Acquire Luke Evangelista From Nashville Predators

New Jersey Devils have added forward Luke Evangelista to their roster, acquiring him from the Nashville Predators in exchange for two selections in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Evangelista is heading into the final year of a two-year, $6-million contract that carries a $3-million annual cap hit, and he is scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer. The move gives Nashville a deep draft war chest, pushing the club's total to 11 picks in the 2028 draft, including five selections within the first two rounds. New Jersey, meanwhile, parted with a first-round pick originally obtained from the Colorado Avalanche to complete the deal, but the Devils retain their own first-rounder for that same draft class.

On the ice, the 24-year-old winger is coming off the best season of his career. In 2025-26 he scored 12 goals while setting personal highs with 44 assists and 56 points overall. Predators general manager Chris MacFarland described Evangelista as a good, young player who had won over the fan base, adding that the decision to move him was not made lightly and came after the front office weighed every option to strengthen the roster going forward.

The trade also reshapes both teams' salary structures. After absorbing Evangelista's cap hit, the Devils are left with $1.85 million in available space, while the Predators now sit with just over $10.6 million to work with.

Evangelista's path to the NHL began when Nashville selected him 42nd overall in the second round of the 2020 draft. He made his NHL debut midway through the 2022-23 season and immediately made an impression, collecting 15 points in his first 24 games. From there he grew into a regular fixture in the Predators' lineup over the following three seasons.

A native of Toronto, Evangelista built his reputation in junior hockey with the London Knights of the OHL. His breakout campaign came in 2021-22, when he led the entire league in goals with 55 and finished fourth in overall scoring, tallying 111 points in just 62 games.

Two Teams Looking to Turn the Page

Both franchises enter this transaction on the outside of the playoff picture. Nashville has now missed the postseason for two consecutive years, closing out 2025-26 with a 38-34-10 record and a sixth-place finish in the Central Division. New Jersey's season ended the same way last year, as the Devils finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 42-37-3 mark.

For Nashville, the trade signals a shift toward accumulating future assets rather than locking in short-term production. For New Jersey, bringing in a proven scorer like Evangelista adds another offensive option as the organization tries to climb back into playoff contention.