The New Jersey Devils started their September off with a little more than scheduling training camp. Sunny Mehta made possibly his biggest addition yet, traded multiple draft picks for Nashville Predators winger Luke Evangelista.
Evangelista was a controversial forward for the Predators last season, holding out of training camp longer than his now-teammate Luke Hughes did. There were rampant trade rumors about Evangelista all last offseason and through training camp. Then, he signed a two-year deal worth a total of $6 million ($3 million AAV) to get him in the lineup and ready to go.
The now-24-year-old went out and had his best season yet. He put up 56 points (12 goals and 44 assists) while spending a good chunk of his season on the Predators' top line. He spent most of last season with Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg. And they were dominant together.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Evangelista's most prominent line had 61% of the offensive chances while on the ice. During those 254 minutes at even strength, the trio scored 17 goals and was on the ice for just nine. Meanwhile, they had 70 high-danger chances while allowing just 34.
The Devils might have a slam dunk on their hands in Luke Evangelista
Nobody was paying attention because they are the Predators and the season did not go well, but Evangelista-O'Reilly-Forsberg was statistically one of the best lines in hockey.
He also spent a considerable amount of time next to Steven Stamkos, and the numbers were rather similar.
What's really interesting is the diving in the numbers without Forsberg and/or Stamkos, and their numbers without him. Evangelista's numbers flop when he was on a line without the Predators' two star wingers, but their numbers dropped as well. Evangelista was on the ice for just 36% of the offensive chances when playing without Forsberg and Stamkos. But they both dropped from close to 60% to close to 50%, with some situations having them losing the chance battle with their opponents.
Mehta made a big move for an interesting forward who only has a $3 million per season contract through this next season. He might already be working on an extension. It's clear, based on the fact that Mehta traded the Colorado Avalanche 2028 first-round pick that they got in the Simon Nemec trade and the Devils' 2028 second-round pick, this team believes the best is yet to come from Evangelista.
We tend to agree.
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