NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Veteran forward Erik Haula passed up a chance to enter free agency next month to remain in New Jersey after signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract with the Devils on Friday.
The 32-year-old Haula had 14 goals and a career-best 27 assists for 41 points in 80 games last season. The 10th-year NHL player also provided leadership in helping a youth-laden Devils team set franchise records with 52 wins and 112 points and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.
It was Haula’s first season with New Jersey after being acquired in a trade that sent Pavel Zacha to Boston last summer. Haula played in various situations, including penalty killing and taking faceoffs.
“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,” general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. “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.”
From Finland, Haula spent his first four seasons in Minnesota, and also had stops in Vegas, Carolina, Florida and Nashville. Overall, he has 126 goals and 281 points in 614 career NHL games.
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The Associated Press