As NHL free agency opened on Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils made some roster noise of their own, adding veterans Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. But while attention was on new arrivals in Newark, several former Devils were finding fresh starts elsewhere across the league.
One of the more notable signings came from forward Nolan Foote, who inked a deal with the Florida Panthers after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Devils. Foote, 24, spent the bulk of last season with the AHL’s Utica Comets, where he tallied an impressive 39 points — good for third on the team. Though he only appeared in seven games with the Devils and posted one assist, his production in the minors suggests the Panthers see potential in the former first-round pick.
Meanwhile, veteran center Justin Dowling is headed across the Hudson River to join the rival New York Rangers. The 34-year-old signed a two-year deal, with the first year guaranteed and the second structured as a two-way contract. Dowling played a career-high 52 games with the Devils last season and is expected to bring depth and leadership to the Rangers’ bottom six forward group.
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who spent time with both the Panthers and Sharks last season, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Utah Mammoth — one of the NHL’s newer franchises. Though his regular-season numbers were modest (5-14-4 record, 3.62 GAA, .884 save percentage), Vanecek was part of Florida’s Stanley Cup-winning roster, adding a championship to his résumé.
Another former Devils netminder, Kaapo Kahkonen, is heading north to the Montreal Canadiens on a one-year deal. The 28-year-old spent most of last season in the AHL, making brief appearances for the Colorado Avalanche and several AHL affiliates. With a 14-20-1-1 record and a .894 save percentage in the minors, he’ll look to compete for backup duties in Montreal.
Lastly, a familiar face is reuniting with former Devils coach Lindy Ruff. Defenseman Mason Geertsen signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Buffalo Sabres, worth an AAV of $775,000. Geertsen played 25 NHL games, all with the Devils in the 2021-22 season under Ruff, and now gets a fresh opportunity in a system he knows well.
While New Jersey looks ahead with new additions, Tuesday’s flurry of signings served as a reminder of just how many former Devils continue to leave their mark around the league.
