Devils Trade Kurtis MacDermid for Zack MacEwen

NEWARK, New Jersey – The New Jersey Devils announced on October 3, 2025, they have traded forward Kurtis MacDermid to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Zack MacEwen. The team’s President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald confirmed the news.

MacEwen, 29, spent last season playing for both the Senators and their AHL affiliate, Belleville. In 21 NHL games, he scored two goals and one assist while accumulating 21 penalty minutes. He tallied seven goals and nine assists during 23 AHL games, along with 29 penalty minutes.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, MacEwen has played a total of 237 NHL regular-season games over seven seasons, netting 34 points and accumulating 323 penalty minutes. His previous stints include time with the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings.

Fitzgerald explained that the trade was motivated partly by financial considerations. MacDermid, carrying a cap hit of $1.15 million for the next two seasons, was traded as the Devils are currently over the salary cap. Meanwhile, MacEwen’s one-way contract at $775,000 allows the Devils to gain some cap space.

The Devils are over $95.5 million against the cap. This transaction allows them to save $375,000, helping to ease their financial situation. The move comes after the Devils signed a new player to a seven-year deal that further complicated their salary commitments.

MacDermid, who has played 288 NHL games and logged significant penalty minutes, is seen as a valuable addition for the Senators, likely increasing their physical presence ahead of the upcoming divisional matchups.

The Devils hope that MacEwen, who is primarily an enforcer, will bring his toughness to the team while helping to manage cap space effectively. MacEwen is expected to compete for a role with the team during the ongoing season.