After riding the seesaw for the last few seasons, the New Jersey Devils are determined to achieve consistent success. New general manager Sunny Mehta is taking a savvy approach in order to put that plan into action. Two weeks after acquiring Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators, the organization is signing the young forward to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. There is an interesting component to this deal.
Article Continues BelowBecause the Devils locked up Evangelista less than an hour before the new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, more than 60 percent of the contract will be paid in signing bonuses, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic. Mehta is making a splash in his first year running the front office.