Luke Evangelista was traded by the Nashville Predators to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday for a conditional first-round pick and a second-round selection in the 2028 NHL Draft.
The move sends a 24-year-old forward to New Jersey after a strong season in Nashville, where Evangelista produced an NHL career-high 56 points in 81 games. He finished last season with 12 goals and 44 assists, giving the Predators one of their more productive young forwards.
What Nashville gets back
This was a draft-pick deal rather than a player-for-player trade, with Nashville receiving a conditional first-round pick and a 2028 second-round selection. That kind of return suggests the Predators were focused on future assets, while New Jersey saw enough value in Evangelista’s production to add him now.
Evangelista was selected by Nashville in the 2020 NHL Draft with the No. 42 pick and has since built a solid early-career resume. In 253 regular-season games, he has 142 points with 45 goals and 97 assists. He also has one goal in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Contract status adds another layer
The trade also comes with contract context. Evangelista signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Nashville on Oct. 4, 2025, carrying a $3 million average annual value. He is under contract for one more season before potential restricted free agency, which makes him more than just a short-term rental for New Jersey.
For the Devils, the deal adds a young forward coming off his best NHL season. For the Predators, it turns a productive player into future draft capital, with the final value of the return depending on how the conditional first-round pick is resolved.
