Devils sign Sami Vatanen to 1-year deal after trading him in 2020

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Sami Vatanen to a one-year deal worth $2 million, the team announced Thursday.

Vatanen was with the Devils for the past three years before being dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline last season. The Devils acquired forward Janne Kuokkanen, defenseman Fredrik Claesson, and a third-round pick in the 2020 draft that was used to select Nico Daws.

The 29-year-old previously appeared in 154 games with New Jersey, recording 12 goals and 56 assists. He posted five goals and 18 assists over 47 contests with the club last season, and the veteran registered three assists in seven postseason games with the Hurricanes.

Vatanen has appeared in 434 career NHL games, amassing 45 goals and 149 assists. The Devils initially acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks in 2017, where he previously spent five seasons.