Evangelista, 24, was acquired via trade with the Nashville Predators at the beginning of September in exchange for a 2028 conditional first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Before being dealt, Evangelista spent all four years of his NHL career with the Preds. The Toronto, Ontario, native is coming off a career season after posting 56 points with 12 goals and a career-high 44 assists, which shattered his previous best of 23.
After being selected 42nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Evangelista wouldn't make his debut until the 2022-2023 season, when he put up seven goals and eight assists in 24 games, putting together an average ice time of 16:34, which was almost a full three minutes more than the following two seasons.
Despite averaging 13:57 of ice time in his second season, Evangelista put up what is still a career-high 16 goals, along with 23 assists, in 80 games.
He would have a down season in 2024-2025 (10g, 22a) after missing four weeks with a lower-body injury, playing in 68 games, before bouncing back this past year.
The Devils needed a top-six winger. Now Evangelista has a chance to help the Devils for years to come.
Their season begins on October 1st against the Philadelphia Flyers.