Jets’ Hellebuyck becomes fourth goalie to win MVP
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck became the fourth goalie since 1967 to receive the Hart Trophy and be named the NHL’s MVP for the 2024/25 season.
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With the 2025 NHL Draft now in the rear view mirror, it’s time for the next step during the NHL offseason: free agency.
July 1 marks the start of free agency every year in the NHL. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, the most coveted free-agent of this class, is already off the board as he agreed to a sign-and-trade that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.
There’s still some star power left on the board and plenty of key depth and role players available as unrestricted free agents this summer.
The New Jersey Devils rebounded last season under coach Sheldon Keefe’s first year behind the bench as they finished with 91 points, good for third place in the Metropolitan Division and a playoff appearance after missing the postseason during the 2023-24 season.
However, with superstar forward Jack Hughes sidelined for the final 20 games of the regular season and the entire playoffs after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, the Devils struggled to find the back of the net, as the team scored more than two goals just twice in the five-game first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.
With Hughes expected to be ready by training camp, the Devils’ front office has its sights set on how to improve the roster to make a deeper run into the playoffs next season.
Here’s what you need to know about the Devils’ current cap space, unrestricted and restricted free agents and all the latest, up-to-date moves the team have made in free agency:
NJ Devils free agency updates
Monday, 12:57 p.m. – Nearly an hour into free agency and the Devils have made their first signing, bringing in forward Connor Brown on a four-year, $12 million deal carrying a $3 million average annual value, according to Sportsnet’s Gene Principe. Brown brings playoff pedigree, as he spent the last two seasons with the Oilers, making the Stanley Cup Final both years. In 2024-25, the 31-year-old right wing played in all 82 games for the first time since 2018-19, recorded 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists) and was a +9 on the ice.
Brown will likely be a middle-six forward with the team and is slotted on the Devils’ third line along side Paul Cotter and Dawson Mercer, according to PuckPedia.
Following the signing of Brown, the Devils now have $9.5 million left in cap space to spend in free agency.
Monday, 11:28 a.m. – As it turns out, Jake Allen never made it to free agency. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes first confirmed that Allen has re-signed with the Devils. Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman added that it’s a five-year deal with a $1.8 million average annual value (AAV) for the netminder. This is a steal of a deal for the Devils, who now have their No. 2 goalie locked up for the foreseeable future at such a low AAV and with the cap rising, it gives New Jersey flexibility to still make moves in free agency.
Monday, 10 a.m. – With free agency officially opening in just two hours, it sounds as if Devils’ goaltender Jake Allen might not hit the market after all. NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported earlier this morning that the team and Allen have made progress on a contract to keep the 34-year-old netminder in the Garden State.
Seravalli added that no deal is done yet, but the pending free agent may just stay put with New Jersey after all.
NJ Devils salary cap space and notable key free agents
Cap space: $14.39 million (Puckpedia)
Unrestricted free agents (UFAs): Goalie Jake Allen, forward Nathan Bastian and forward Daniel Sprong
Restricted free agents (RFAs): Defenseman Luke Hughes and forward Nolan Foote
Perhaps the most notable Devils free agent isn’t any UFA about to hit the market but instead Luke Hughes, who’s currently a restricted free agent. The youngest Hughes brother is just 21 years old and is slated to be a top pair defenseman for the foreseeable future with the franchise.
The former No. 4 overall pick has registered 93 points in 155 regular season games and similar to Jack, his brother and teammate, also underwent successful shoulder surgery this offseason and should be ready by training camp.
When it comes to UFAs, the notable one here is Allen, who’s played the last two seasons in New Jersey and is deemed the top available goalie free agent available.
The 34-year-old netminder was acquired by the Devils on March 8, 2024 from the Montreal Canadiens but could be moving on with starting goalie Jakob Markstrom and backup Nico Daws both under contract for the 2025-26 season.
In 44 appearances with the Devils, Allen posted a 19-22-2 record, a .904 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average (GAA).
While New Jersey has the money left to sign him, it seems as if the organization will let him test the market and instead use their remaining cap space on adding more depth up front such as a bottom-six forward given the scoring issues that arose with them once Hughes went down.
When does NHL free agency begin?
Date: July 1
Time: 12 p.m.
Free agency in the National Hockey League is officially open starting at 12 p.m. on July 1.