Erik Haula signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract to remain with the New Jersey Devils on Friday. It has an average annual value of $3.15 million.
The 32-year-old forward had 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Devils this season and six points (four goals, two assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"A big part is I always talk about wanting to win," Haula said. "I think that we have a group that is just only going to get better and that's always exciting. I always talk about just having a chance to compete for a Cup, and I think this is this is a place where I'm going to have an opportunity to do that for multiple years to come and really excited just the direction of the team and where we're headed."
Haula was acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Boston Bruins for forward Pavel Zacha on July 13, 2022, and helped New Jersey (52-22-8) finish with the most wins and points (112) in its history before being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference Second Round.
"When I traded for Erik, we talked about how he was the type of player that we needed to help us continue to move the group forward," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "He played key minutes in all situations throughout the season -- power play, penalty kill, taking faceoffs -- and provided leadership for our team. At the end of the season, he told me how much he wanted to be a part of what we are building here in New Jersey, and I'm glad we could quickly get a deal done that gives him a place to lay down roots with his family."
Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round (182) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Haula has 281 points (126 goals, 155 assists) in 614 regular-season games for the Devils, Bruins, Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights and Wild, and 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 73 playoff games.
Haula, who played for six teams over the past five seasons, welcomed the stability that came with his contract.
"It was a huge deal to have security," he said. "We bounced around quite a bit and just to have the ability to be able to look into housing and get my family all set up and so we're really excited with how it all ended up and I'm just really excited to be back."
He is looking forward to continuing to play with center Jack Hughes, who set a Devils single-season record with 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists) this season.
"He was someone I was in communication within the summer and he was one of my first texts when we got the deal done (last offseason), and I can't say enough about him and just fortunate enough to play with a player like that," Haula said. "And he's only going to get better, so I'm going to do what I can to help him and so super fun and exciting."
Haula pointed to the success and culture of the Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup this season, as something the Devils can look to build toward.
"As we watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I mean watch the teams that win," Haula said. "It's usually not a team that just all of a sudden just comes out and wins it. Florida had a great run, but they've also been in the mix, they've been playing in the playoffs for a few years. Vegas, six years. I went to the Final with them that first year and they've been in the mix all the time. Obviously, they fell short that one year, but it just doesn't just happen. It's kind of a process, so last year was awesome for our team. I think it was eye opening for a lot of the guys and it will be motivating for them going into the summer and coming back next season."
The signing comes eight days after the Devils re-signed restricted free agent forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year $63 million contract ($7.875 million AAV).
New Jersey signed defenseman Damon Severson, the longest-tenured player on the team (nine seasons), to an eight-year, $50 million contract ($6.25 million AAV) before trading him to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 7 for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Severson could have become an unrestricted free agent.
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
