By MARK EVERSON

The Devils opened Day 2 of free agency today by bringing back their seventh-round, 218th overall 2002 draft pick, right wing Ilkka Pikkarainen, who spent the last three seasons in Europe after three years with Albany.

The 28-year-old native of Sonkajarvi, Finland went 24-13-37 in 54 games with 149 penalty minutes with Helsinki last season. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he “brings size, strength, scoring and toughness to our roster,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. He went 29-33-62 in 196 games with 305 penalty minutes during his Albany tenure, when the River Rats were the Devils’ top affiliate.

New Jersey re-signed defenseman Andy Greene, but lost free agents John Madden (forward, Chicago), Brian Gionta (forward, Montreal), Mike Rupp (forward, Pittsburgh) and Scott Clemmensen (goalie, Florida) on Wednesday.