Predators acquire Erik Haula from Devils for Jeremy Hanzel, draft pick

The Nashville Predators announced on Wednesday that the team has acquired veteran forward Erik Haula from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Jeremy Hanzel and a fourth round pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL draft.

“We are excited to have Erik join our team today,” Predators general manager Barry Trotz said via the team’s press release. “He brings great flexibility to our roster with the ability to play up and down the lineup in a variety of different roles. We are confident that he’ll be able to play alongside our young players, helping to accelerate their development.”

In 69 regular season games with the Devils this past season, Haula posted 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points.

For the Finnish center, the trade is a return to a familiar team, as Haula spent the 2020-2021 campaign as a member of the Predators.

Haula has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $3.15 million.

He joins a Predators team that is looking to bounce back from a disastrous 2024-2025 season that saw them finish 30-44-8 despite several big splashes last offseason.

Hanzel, a 22-year-old defender, spent most of this season in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators, where he put up 22 points in 61 games played.

The Devils also add draft capital to their arsenal. The team does not have its first round pick from the Jacob Markstrom trade with the Calgary Flames, but they now have two picks in both the second and fourth rounds.

According to Puckpedia, New Jersey now has about $14.4 million in cap space with which to maneuver this offseason.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald will look to add to a group that went 42-33-7 and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs despite several major injuries, including one to franchise center Jack Hughes.