New Jersey Devils Face Precise UFA Decisions on Nathan Bastian and Daniel Sprong

As the 2025 NHL offseason begins, the New Jersey Devils need to make decisions on two unrestricted free agents: Nathan Bastian and Daniel Sprong. Both players are depth forwards, but they come from very different paths. The team’s bottom six forwards were a weak point last season, and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has already said changes are coming. That puts both Bastian and Sprong under review.

Starting with Nathan Bastian, he is 27 years old and has been with the Devils organization for most of his career. He was drafted 41st overall in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Since then, he has played 264 NHL games with the Devils and only 12 games elsewhere—those were with the Seattle Kraken during the 2021–22 season after he was selected in the expansion draft. The Kraken later waived him, and the Devils claimed him back. He also played 188 AHL games for the Binghamton Devils earlier in his career.

Bastian is a big forward at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. He is more so known for his physical style, not his scoring. In the 2024–25 season, Bastian played 59 games and recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points. He had 138 hits and a minus-4 rating. In 2023–24, he played 54 games and had five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Over his NHL career, he has 32 goals and 34 assists, totaling 66 points, and he has delivered 734 hits. His production has stayed around 10 to 16 points per season.

He just finished a two-year contract worth $2.7 million, with an average annual value of $1.35 million. According to AFPAnalytics, his projected value is about the same for a new one-year deal. However, his performance dropped this past season. He was quiet in the playoffs, offering little offense or impact.

Bastian has said he wants to stay in New Jersey. He mentioned that he’s the longest-tenured player in the organization and feels a strong connection to the team. Still, Fitzgerald made it clear that the Devils will not keep the same group of players, stating “it wasn’t good enough,”  which means even loyal players like Bastian are not guaranteed a new deal.

If Bastian returns, it would likely be as a 13th or 14th forward, not someone guaranteed a spot in the lineup. If he ends up playing more than 50 games again next season, it could be a sign that the team failed to improve its depth. Based on his scoring and overall impact, letting him go would be a practical move.

Now, turning to Daniel Sprong, his situation is quite different. He is 28 years old and was drafted 46th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since then, he has played for seven NHL teams: Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Washington, Seattle, Detroit, Vancouver, and now New Jersey.

Sprong had strong seasons before 2024–25. In 2022–23, he played 66 games for Seattle and scored 21 goals with 25 assists for 46 points.In 2023–24 with Detroit, he played 76 games and had 18 goals and 25 assists,for a total of 43 points. These stats show he can score at a middle-six level.

But in 2024–25, Sprong struggled. He played 30 total games for Vancouver, Seattle, and New Jersey and recorded only eight points. The Devils traded for him on March 8, 2025, sending Seattle a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. This trade came after he had already cleared waivers earlier in the season, meaning the Devils could have claimed him for free but chose not to at the time.

With the Devils, Sprong played 11 regular-season games and had just two assists. He appeared in one playoff game and had no points. His role was limited, and he did not make an impact in the short time he was with the team.

Despite that, his recent scoring history makes him more valuable than Bastian. Sprong’s offensive skills are proven. If he signs a one-year deal for about $1 million—as projected by AFPAnalytics—he would be a low-risk option. He could benefit from a full training camp and system under new head coach Sheldon Keefe. If he plays well, he could return to being a 40-point player. If not, the Devils can waive him with a little salary penalty.

Sprong has scored more points in the last two full seasons (89 total) than Bastian has in his entire career (66 points over six seasons), and that kind of offensive difference matters. The Devils also have prospects like Lenni Hämeenaho and Arseni Gritsyuk pushing for roster spots. Sprong could compete with them or act as a short-term option while they develop.

With free agency starting July 1, the Devils need to act soon. Keeping Bastian would be a loyalty-based decision. Keeping Sprong would be a scoring bet. Given the team’s need to upgrade depth, the smarter move is to offer Sprong a short contract and let Bastian move on. Since every spot matters, the Devils can’t afford to miss.