The NHL offseason is well underway. After the NHL Entry Draft came and went, the next date of importance is today, at 5:00 pm ET. This is the deadline teams must extend a qualifying offer to their restricted free agents to ensure their rights are entertained. With that being said, what players will the Devils need to make decisions on?

The Rules and Terminology

Restricted free agents (RFA) are players who are under the age of 27 or have played seven or less seasons in the NHL and their contract has expired. Restricted free agents are different than unrestricted free agents in the sense that the incumbent team owns the restricted free agent’s rights, and do not lose them unless a qualifying offer is not extended by the aforementioned deadline. Once the qualifying offer is not extended, the restricted free agent becomes an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team come July 1.

There is another way a restricted free agent can leave the incumbent team outside non-qualification and a trade. That is if a different team offers the restricted free agent a contract via an offer sheet. Offer sheets are a contract that is offered to a restricted free agent by a team that is not their current one. The offer sheet contract needs to be agreed upon by the player, and once offered, the incumbent team can match the offer. If they do not, then that player will join the offering team, but the incumbent would get the below compensation:

• Above $11,700,193: four first-round picks (in next five draft)
• $9,360,154 to $11,700,192: two first-round pick (in next three drafts), second-round pick, third-round pick
• $7,020,114 to $9,360,153: first-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick
• $4,680,077 to $7,020,113: first-round pick, third-round pick
• $2,340,038 to $4,680,076: second-round pick
• $1,544,425 to $2,340,037: third-round pick
• Below $1,544,424: none

Note, not all restricted free agents are eligible to receive an offer sheet.

As for what exactly qualifying offers are; they are a one-year deal that is worth a predetermined amount based off that player’s salary the previous season. Players can either accept these qualifying offers or negotiate a new extension with the team at any length (maximum seven years) and any salary.

Another aspect of restricted free agency is arbitration. Salary arbitration is a process that is utilized to solve contract disputes between a player and their team. A third party will determine what a players contract will be for the next season once each side submits their case. The mediation can result in a one-or two-year deal. Players can be eligible for arbitration if they fulfill the following benchmarks:

• Players aged 18-to-20 must have four years of NHL experience before they are eligible.
• Players that are aged 21 must have three years.
• Players aged 22-to-23 years old must have two years.
• Players aged 24 or older must have one year.

Note, a player earns a year of NHL experience by playing in at least 10 professional games. 

Devils Who Are Restricted Free Agents

Luke Hughes

By far the Devils’ most important restricted free agent is 21-year-old Luke Hughes. Hughes played 21:09 of ice time per night, increasing on his point-per-game pace from his first full professional season in 2023-24. The on-ice metrics were not exactly there yet, but, he has shown to be electric in transition and his microstatistics grade out very strongly.

The Devils have two routes they can go with their young defenseman; a bridge deal or a longer term contract. A bridge deal will allow couple years of buffer before the team and player will need to negotiate a long-term deal. It would also benefit the player, allowing him to cash in during what projects to be a much plusher market as the cap increases every year. According to AFP Analytics, a bridge deal projects at three years and $5,756,262 annually. A long-term contract projects at six years and $8,386,810 annually.

So, certainly expect to hear the Devils formally qualify Hughes, before the team agrees upon either a bridge deal or long-term contract at a later date. Note, Hughes is not eligible for arbitration or an offer sheet by a different team.

Cody Glass

The Devils acquired the 26-year-old center from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forwards Chase Stillman and Max Graham, as well as a third-round pick in 2027.

Cody Glass played quite well down the stretch for the Devils, posting seven points in 14 regular season games; a 41-point pace over 82 games. Glass ranked first on the team in Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and fifth in expected goals-for percentage (xGF%). The area Glass really excelled was defense, ranking in the league’s 96th percentile.

A lot has been made on whether or not the Devils will qualify Glass come the 5:00 pm ET deadline on Monday. According to Elliotte Friedman of TSN, the team was not expected to qualify Glass as they hoped to re-sign him to a new deal that is not at the number his qualifying offer would be ($2.5 million). However, as of Monday afternoon, this no longer appears to be the case.

AFP Analytics currently projects Glass’ new deal at three years and $2,903,836.99 per season. Additionally, given Friedman’s additional report that there is a ton of interest in the younger center, it did not appear realistic that the Devils were going to get their wish at retaining Glass on a new deal. Thus, why it appears general manager Tom Fitzgerald changed his mind.

Note, Glass is arbitration eligible.

Nolan Foote

Back in February of 2020, the Devils acquired former first-round pick Nolan Foote in a trade that sent Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since then, Foote has played in 191 AHL games, posting 129 points, and 30 NHL games, posting nine points.

He has always seemingly been on the fringe of breaking through to the NHL full time. Whenever he has gotten an opportunity, it has gone decently well (51.2 CF%). However, the Devils really have not had a full-time role for the now 24-year-old.

AFP analytics projects a one-year deal worth $866,250, which is what Foote’s qualifying offer is. Foote is one of two individuals on this list that would appear likely to accept their qualifying offer, if offered. Foote is eligible for arbitration, but that seems unlikely to be needed.

Santeri Hatakka

Santeri Hatakka, who the Devils acquired in the Timo Meier trade, skated in 12 games for the Devils during the 2023-24 season. His 2024-25 season got a late start, as he worked his way back from injury. He did not appear in a NHL game, and was limited to only 19 AHL games.

Hatakka signed a contract with HV71 of the SHL (top professional league in Sweden). So, he will not be back with the Devils’ organization next year. New Jersey can still extend him a qualifying offer, to retain his rights. However, it certainly will not be accepted.

Hatakka is arbitration eligible.

Isaac Poulter

The last of five Devils who are restricted free agents is goaltender Isaac Poulter.

Poulter, 23 years old, was signed out of the WHL as an undrafted free agent, and rewarded for his strong play (0.911 save percentage across 28 AHL games in 2023-24) with a NHL contract in February of 2024. He followed the strong 2023-24 season with a middling 2024-25, posting a 0.898 save percentage and 16-13-7 record for Utica (AHL).

The Devils currently have Nico Daws, Jakub Málek, and Tyler Brennan under contract for next year. One would assume Brennan spends a majority of his year in the ECHL again after playing 29 games for Adirondack in 2024-25. That leaves an open spot in Utica (AHL) if Daws backs up Jacob Markstrom in the NHL. If not, Utica may be looking at a Daws and Málek tandem, with Brennan in the ECHL, and Poulter the odd man out.

If the Devils extend a qualifying offer to Poulter, it is expected he would accept at the $813,750 figure. He is indeed arbitration eligible, but that likely won’t be needed.

Predictions

Below is how we feel Monday’s deadline and beyond will be handled by the Devils as it relates to their restricted free agents:

• Hughes: qualified; bridge deal
• Glass: qualified
• Foote: qualified; accepts qualifying offer
• Hatakka: qualified; plays in SHL
• Poulter: not qualified

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