The New Jersey Devils are heading into a pivotal offseason, and while the spotlight often shines on restricted free agents, it's time to take a closer look at the unrestricted free agents on the roster. This week, we're breaking down two pending UFAs—Evgenii Dadonov and Zack MacEwen—and whether either player is worth bringing back for the 2026-27 season.

Let's start with Evgenii Dadonov. When the Devils signed the 36-year-old winger to a one-year, $1 million contract loaded with bonuses last July, it felt like a savvy low-risk, high-reward move. The idea was simple: add a veteran scorer who could chip in secondary offense without breaking the bank. Fans and analysts alike liked the deal, and for good reason—Dadonov had just netted 20 goals with the Dallas Stars the season before.

But from the very start, things didn't go according to plan. Dadonov fractured his hand in his Devils debut against Carolina on October 9th, sidelining him for 17 games. He returned in mid-November, played just four games, and then got hurt again against Detroit, missing another 22 games. When he finally came back in January, the hope was that he'd provide a spark. Instead, he was a ghost on the ice.

Playing mostly on the third and fourth lines, Dadonov was invisible during a stretch where the Devils' offense went cold. From January 11th to February 5th, he managed just eight shots on goal in 12 games. For the entire season, he had only 20 shots on goal—a staggering drop-off for a player who averaged nearly three shot attempts per game the year before. After the Olympic break, he was mostly benched as the Devils got healthier up front.

The bottom line? Dadonov's season was derailed by injuries and marked by a complete lack of production. At 37 next year, it's hard to make a case for bringing him back, even on another cheap deal.

Now, onto Zack MacEwen. The 6-foot-3 forward brought size and physicality, but his role was limited. In 45 games this season, he scored just three goals and added five assists, while averaging under 10 minutes of ice time per game. He's a depth piece at best, and with the Devils looking to upgrade their forward group, it's tough to see where he fits.

Both Dadonov and MacEwen are likely heading out the door. The Devils need to get younger, faster, and more productive—and these two veterans simply don't check those boxes. As the team eyes the 2026-27 season, expect Tom Fitzgerald to look elsewhere for roster help.