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Yahoo Sports1 min read
NHL
DitD & Open Post - 5/13/26: Fingerprints Edition
TL;DR
Arseny Gritsyuk, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, is set to become a restricted free agent after his first NHL season. The Devils have also made a significant front office addition with Braden Birch, known for his successful contract work with the Florida Panthers.
Key points
- Arseny Gritsyuk is a restricted free agent after his first NHL season.
- Braden Birch joins the New Jersey Devils' front office.
- Birch previously worked with the Florida Panthers.
- The Devils are expected to change their drafting philosophy.
- Sunny Mehta is leading the new regime in New Jersey.
Mentioned in this story
Florida Panthers
Arseny GritsyukNew Jersey DevilsCharlie McAvoyCharlie Coyle
Devils Links
A new name in the front office: âItâs hard to view this addition as anything but a big positive. Birch served as the director of hockey operations and salary cap management for the leagueâs most successful team in recent years. As noted when rumors first surfaced, his fingerprints were all over a lot of crafty contract work with the Florida Panthers.â [Infernal Access] âAfter nearly five seasons in the KHL, Arseny Gritsyuk made his way to North America and played his first NHL season with the New Jersey Devils in 2025-26. His counting totals werenât overly impressive, but a peek underneath the hood shows Gritsyuk was one of the Devilsâ best forwards. Since he signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Devils for 2025-26, he will need a new deal as a restricted free agent this offseason. What could the Devils pay Gritsyuk? And does it make sense to go long-term?â [Devils on the Rush] âWith a new regime underway in , one run by a progressive-thinking, analytics-fluent individual in Sunny Mehta, we can anticipate quite a few changes to philosophies with the Devils. One such area in which the Devils will need to shift the paradigm to have more success is in drafting.â []
Q&A
What is Arseny Gritsyuk's contract situation with the New Jersey Devils?
Arseny Gritsyuk is a restricted free agent after completing his one-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.
Who is Braden Birch and what role will he play with the New Jersey Devils?
Braden Birch has been added to the Devils' front office, previously serving as the director of hockey operations and salary cap management for the Florida Panthers.
What changes are expected in the New Jersey Devils' drafting philosophy?
With Sunny Mehta leading the new regime, the Devils are anticipated to adopt a more progressive and analytics-driven approach to drafting.
