Haula Acquired from Boston | RELEASE

The New Jersey Devils today acquired forward Erik Haula via trade from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Pavel Zacha. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.
Haula, 31, joins the Devils after spending last season with Boston. The left-handed shot recorded 44 points (18g-26a), and 47 PIM with a +19 rating in 78 games. His 26 assists were a career high (tie), while his goal and point totals were the second most of his career. The center/wing was also 53.8% on face-offs, the seventh straight year he had posted over 50%. He ranked third on the Bruins in face-off percentage and face-offs won (434), and was second on the squad for hits by a forward (129).
The 6'0, 190lbs. forward has totaled 240 career NHL points (112g-128a) with 243 PIM and a +42 plus/minus rating in 534 regular-season contests in parts of nine seasons starting in 2013-14. Haula started his career with Minnesota (266 GP), but has also skated for Vegas (91), Carolina (41), Florida (7), Nashville (51) and last year with Boston. Haula has appeared in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in every season he has played and been healthy (eight seasons total, missing 2018-19 with Vegas due to a knee injury). He has earned 30 points (12g-18a) in 61 career playoff contests. Haula was a member of the Golden Knights 2018 Western Conference Championship squad.
Born on March 23, 1991, the native of Pori, Finland, was a seventh-round draft pick of Minnesota, 182nd overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft. Before his professional experience, Haula played at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level for the University of Minnesota from 2011-12 to 2012-13. He also played for Omaha (USHL) and Shattuck St. Mary's High School (MN). Before arriving in North America, Haula played for the Assat program in Finland. He has represented his home country in international play, participating in the 2008 and 2009 (Bronze Medal) Under-18 World Junior Championships, 2011 World Junior Championships, 2014 World Championships (Silver Medal), and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Over seven seasons in New Jersey, Zacha scored 69 goals and 110 assists for 179 points with 110 PIM and a -66 rating in 386 games played. He skated in five Stanley Cup Playoff games with NJ.