The New Jersey Devils are facing a ton of pressure heading into the 2026-27 season. They have a strong team, but last season, they crumbled and missed the postseason after a solid start. The Devils are determined not to let that happen again.
Each player has a role to fill, and as we gear up for the season, we can start predicting how each player will perform as we continue our Devils’ player projections through the forward group. Next up is newcomer Luke Evangelista.
2025-26 Performance
Evangelista spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators, playing 81 games and scoring 56 points via 12 goals and 44 assists. He is entering his fifth NHL season, and his fourth full-time.
Last season was his best performance thus far, playing in the most games of his career, scoring the most points and averaging the most ice time at 16:37.
Expectations for 2026-27
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Devils traded two 2028 draft picks (a 1st-round pick and a 2nd-round pick) to acquire Evangelista from the Predators. The trade came out of nowhere on Sept. 2, as management continues to try to upgrade the forward group. After his strong performance in 2025-26, it made sense for the Devils to acquire a player of his caliber.
Evangelista is heading into this season with a lot of pressure. First, he will have to develop chemistry with his new linemates. Coming off a solid season, he will be expected to play in the top six and will likely slot in alongside Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes, as the team’s rotating first or second line.
He is still a young player, and at 24 years old, he has plenty of room to grow and hone his skills. However, he will have to prove that management made the right choice trading for him by producing the points the organization believes he is capable of.
The Devils have taken on the final year of Evangelista’s two-year, $6 million contract before he becomes a restricted free agent next summer. With an AAV of $3 million, the team is hoping he will become a star in New Jersey.
Provided he has another strong season, the Devils could sign him long-term next summer or offer him a bridge deal if he struggles. The uncertainty surrounding Evangelista’s future is what makes this season all the more important.
Upcoming Career Milestones
With 253 games played, if Evangelista stays healthy, he could reach his 300th career NHL game this season. He is also close to scoring his 100th NHL assist with 97 to date. He has 45 NHL goals to his name, so we can expect him to surpass 50 in 2026-27. However, if he scores 20 goals, it will be the first time in his career.
He is also sitting at 142 points and would need to score 58 to reach 200. That is two points more than his career high of 56, set last season.
Projections for the 2026-27 Season
It’s hard to predict what Evangelista will accomplish this season since he is joining a new team. He needs to establish chemistry early and build on his offensive production. After what he accomplished with the Predators in 2025-26, it is clear the Devils believe he can repeat that success.
My bold prediction for Evangelista is that he will spend most of his time playing in the top six with Brett and Hughes, two players with a high compete level. He should also see a boost in his production and reach some milestones this season.
Other 2026-27 Projections
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