Luke Evangelista

Luke Evangelista (born February 21, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a right winger for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 42nd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Evangelista played as a youth with the Oakville Rangers in the SCTA before playing major junior hockey with London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected in the second round, 42nd overall, of the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators.

With the following 2020–21 OHL season firstly delayed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on November 9, 2020. With the resumption of professional hockey Evangelista joined the Predators AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and made his professional debut in registering 4 assists through 14 regular season games.

Evangelista returned to junior hockey for the 2021–22 season, captaining the Knights and leading the team in all offensive categories with a league leading 55 goals and 56 assists for 111 points in only 62 regular season games.

After participating in the 2022 Nashville Predators training camp, Evangelista was reassigned to begin the 2022–23 season with the Admirals. With his offensive game translating to the professional ranks, Evangelista immediately assumed a role on the Admirals top scoring line and was leading the team in scoring when selected to represent the team at the AHL All-Star Classic. On February 28, 2023, Evangelista received his first recall by the Predators and made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins that night in a 3–1 defeat. In the following games he recorded his first point, an assist on a goal to Matt Duchene, in a 2–1 victory over the Florida Panthers on March 3, 2023. In increasing his ice-time, Evangelista notched his first two goals of his career against the Vancouver Canucks in a 4–3 shootout defeat on March 7, 2023.

On September 1, 2026, the Predators traded Evangelista to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional 2028 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.

Personal life Luke is the son of Andrew and Margaret Evangelista and has two sisters, Maria and Sophia. He is second cousins to supermodel Linda Evangelista and Toronto Maple Leafs executive Brendan Shanahan.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Bold indicates led league Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2017–18 Oakville Rangers SCTA 36 39 51 90 30 — — — — — 2018–19 London Knights OHL 27 0 2 2 4 — — — — — 2019–20 London Knights OHL 62 23 38 61 12 — — — — — 2020–21 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 14 0 4 4 4 — — — — — 2021–22 London Knights OHL 62 55 56 111 48 7 2 4 6 0 2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 49 9 32 41 18 16 4 11 15 4 2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 24 7 8 15 6 — — — — — 2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 80 16 23 39 18 6 1 0 1 2 2024–25 Nashville Predators NHL 68 10 22 32 22 — — — — — 2025–26 Nashville Predators NHL 81 12 44 56 28 — — — — —NHL totals 253 45 97 142 74 6 1 0 1 2

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2018 Canada White U17 6th 5 0 1 1 0Junior totals 5 0 1 1 0

Awards and honours Award Year RefOHL Second All-Star Team 2018 AHL All-Star Game 2023