Former Penguin and 20-Goal Scorer Still Unsigned in Free Agency

After an early postseason exit this spring, the New Jersey Devils chose not to re-sign several players whose contracts were to expire.

Since July 1st, Brian Dumoulin (now with the Los Angeles Kings), Curtis Lazar (now with the Edmonton Oilers), and Justin Dowling (now with the New York Rangers) have all signed with new clubs.

Two of last season's Devils forwards remaining in search of new addresses are Nathan Bastian and Daniel Sprong. Bastian remains a viable choice for teams in need of size and grit in the bottom six.

The 6-4 winger registered four goals, six assists, and 138 hits over 59 games in 2023-24. In six seasons in the NHL, most of which with New Jersey, Bastian has tallied 32 goals, 66 points, and 734 hits in 264 games.

A short-term, inexpensive contract could make him a coveted depth piece. Sprong, meanwhile, could catch the eye of clubs seeking offense to bring in.

While he tallied just seven points in 30 games last season between Vancouver, Seattle, and New Jersey, the 27-year-old winger had 43 and 46 points apiece in each of the last two seasons.

If a club believes he can regain his form, Sprong could receive an invite to camp, maybe on a professional tryout (PTO).

It should be noted that Sprong began his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who drafted him 46th overall in 2015. While he never became a regular in Pittsburgh, his skill set is still attractive to teams looking for depth scoring.

Perhaps, maybe even Kyle Dubas can give him a shot in a potential return to Pittsburgh.

As the offseason rolls on, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bastian or Sprong get PTOs or late-summer contracts, with teams looking to shore up forward depth.