3 New Jersey Devils Not Expected Back Next Season

New Jersey Devils fans, your roster is going to look very different next season.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald is under the gun, having one last shot this offseason to make significant strides in the right direction. Thanks to a number of key injuries and some unmet expectations, the Devils have once again failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Fitzgerald has been aggressive on the trade market, but unfortunately, missed out on Quinn Hughes, which set the team back. Momentum is heading in the wrong direction, and now it's on Fitzgerald to hit a couple of home runs this summer.

As far as the current roster goes, there's going to be several players who are on their way out. Here's three Devils not expected back next season:

Dawson Mercer

The Devils were offering Mercer in a wide variety of trades leading up to the deadline, but didn't get the offer they were looking for. Ideally, the Devils land an experienced top-line winger who is established in the league. They've always seemed to want more from Mercer at both ends of the rink, and so far this season, he's appeared in 71 games, scoring 15 goals and 34 points. Mercer's signed for $4 million next season, and after 2026-27, is a pending restricted free agent, so this team control will be appealing to onlooking teams for the 24-year-old. Mercer doesn't have any trade protection, and can be moved at will.

Evgenii Dadonov

The 37-year-old winger wanted to chase a Cup with the Devils, but instead, will be missing the playoffs, and searching for a new deal this summer. This season, the Russian forward has appeared in 19 games and hasn't recorded a point. If he wants to play pro hockey next season, it's likely going to have to come across the pond, as don't expect to see NHL teams having any interest this summer.

Dougie Hamilton

This season was a disaster for Hamilton, and it really had more to do with off the ice, than on. Hamilton was made a healthy scratch earlier in the year, and his agent flipped, and started making trade calls to other teams. Hamilton's under contract through 2027-28 at $9 million AAV, and owns a no-movement clause, but expect to see the Devils move on from the two-way defenceman this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to take a serious run at re-shaping their blueline, and have Hamilton high on their priority list.

Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images