The New Jersey Devils are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to their goaltending situation. After acquiring Jacob Markstrom two years ago in hopes of stabilizing their net, they now find themselves in a position where they're considering trading him away. This isn't exactly a surprise, given Markstrom's performance this season, which has been less than stellar. With a 3.07 goals-against average (GAA) and an .883 save percentage (SV%), he's been the weaker netminder in the tandem with Jake Allen, and the Devils missed the playoffs as a result. Now, new GM Sunny Mehta is looking to shake things up, and it appears that Markstrom is on the trading block.
What makes this situation particularly intriguing is the state of the free agent market for starting goaltenders. With Sergei Bobrovsky being one of the few options, and his contract situation being a bit of a holdup, the Devils might be in a unique position to offer Markstrom as an alternative to teams looking for a starting goalie without a long-term commitment. However, this move would also leave the Devils in a bit of a bind, as they would be left with a tandem of Allen and Nico Daws, who didn't exactly have a great showing this season. This raises the question: is Markstrom really worth the risk, or is there a better option out there?
From my perspective, the Devils are in a tough spot. On one hand, they have the opportunity to free up some cap flexibility by trading Markstrom, which could be a smart move if they're looking to make some other changes this summer. But on the other hand, they're also in a position where they might need to bring in at least a platoon partner for Allen, which could be a challenge given the thin free agent market. It's a delicate balance, and one that Mehta will need to navigate carefully.
One thing that immediately stands out is the fact that Markstrom's current deal, which runs through June 30th, carries a full no-move clause. This means that, for the time being, he has full control over his future. However, come July 1st, his trade protection drops to a 20-team no-trade list, giving Mehta a few teams to potentially work with. It's worth noting that no trade is imminent, but Markstrom is now a name to keep an eye on in a thin goalie market this summer.
In my opinion, the Devils are in a bit of a catch-22. They have the opportunity to free up some cap flexibility by trading Markstrom, but they also risk leaving themselves in a bit of a bind if they don't have a solid backup plan. It's a delicate situation, and one that Mehta will need to navigate carefully if he wants to make the most of the goaltending situation this summer.
