Will the Devils Say Goodbye to This Veteran Forward?
Forward Curtis Lazar is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, concluding his short-term contract with the New Jersey Devils. With general manager Tom Fitzgerald working to fill out the roster under a tight budget, Lazar may be considered for a return to New Jersey. While fans enjoy watching his playful interactions with defenseman Luke Hughes both on and off the ice, Lazar's on-ice performance hasn’t strongly justified a contract extension. Fitzgerald must carefully assess whether Lazar is essential to the team’s plans or if limited cap space would be better allocated elsewhere.
Lazar has been with the Devils since March 2023, appearing in 123 games over two and a half seasons. Despite his tenure, he has yet to solidify his role as a consistent presence in the team’s lineup. This past regular season, the bottom-six forward played in 48 games and recorded just five points—a steep drop of 20 points from the previous season. His performance declined in other areas as well, including a noticeable dip in his plus-minus rating, which fell to minus six. Given Fitzgerald’s exit interview remark that the team “won’t be coming back with the same group,” Lazar’s underperformance this season could place him among those likely to be let go.
Although Lazar’s performance this season was underwhelming, the Devils’ tight salary cap situation could work in his favor. With roughly $12 million in available cap space, re-signing Lazar at his previous $1 million salary would be a low-risk, cost-effective move for the team. Ultimately, it comes down to assessing whether his skills meet the team’s needs or if his salary would be better invested in a more impactful player. Even though he may be inexpensive, the Devils need to carefully consider how they plan to rebuild their bottom six.
Lazar’s best professional season—and his strongest as a Devil—came in 2023-24. He won over 50% of his faceoffs and set a career-high with 25 points in 71 games. That season was when he truly justified his $1 million salary. While he brings value off the ice, often leaning into the veteran-versus-prospect dynamic and positively influencing younger teammates, his on-ice production hasn’t reached the same level since.
As a UFA, Lazar’s future remains uncertain. He’s not alone, as several other bottom-six Devils players, including Nathan Bastian, Tomáš Tatar, Daniel Sprong, and Justin Dowling, are also set to hit free agency. Fitzgerald will need to make strategic decisions as he reshapes the depth of the roster under tight cap constraints. Devils fans may be saying goodbye to the veteran forward.
