Erik Haula is back at The Rock.
The Devils re-signed the veteran left-winger to a three-year, $9.45 million contract, the team announced Friday.
“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, according to ESPN. “He played key minutes in all situations throughout the season — power play, penalty kill, taking faceoffs — and provided leadership for our team.”
With a $3.15 million cap hit, Haula’s new deal will pay him $3.9 million in 2023-24, $3.15 million in 2024-25 and $2.4 million in 2025-26.
The Devils acquired Haula, 32, from the Bruins in exchange for Pavel Zacha, 26, during the 2022 off-season.
Haula was on the last leg of his two-year, $4.75 million contract that he inked with Boston in 2021 when entering the 2022-23 season with New Jersey.
While some were initially skeptical about the move, Haula proved to be exactly what the budding Devils needed this year, providing leadership and versatility to a talented young roster.
Haula’s grinding versatility was essential to the Devils’ jump this year, winning 19 of their first 23 games and making their first playoff appearance in five years.
The winger, who also doubles as a center, was pesky on the penalty kill, dominant at the faceoff dot and sharp with his shooting –– making an impact through the full 200 feet.
Haula bought into his role as a sturdy middle six player.
No. 56 offered an edge to the third line while also getting minutes with New Jersey’s top scorers, namely Jack Hughes who he centered at times this season.
“I’m a huge Erik Haula fan. He came in and did a great job for us, providing that leadership and experience,” Hughes said after the season, according to Pucks and Pitchforks.
“He’s been a gamer for us, played (almost) every game all year. He’s fighting, scoring, penalty killing, on the power play — he’s just a character guy and he fits really well in our locker room. That’s a guy we should bring back for sure.”
Haula posted 14 goals and 27 assists in the regular season and four goals and two assists in the playoffs this year –– all of which came in the Devils’ first-round dispensing of the New York Rangers.
Heading into his 11th year in the league, it seems New Jersey is exactly where Haula wants to be.
“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,” Fitzgerald said.