With the trade deadline fast approaching, the New Jersey Devils are faced with the decision of whether adding and/or trading a goaltender is part of their plan for a playoff push. The Devils season has been plagued with inconsistent goaltending from Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid, the goalie tandem that carried them to the playoffs last year. Additionally, Vanecek is currently out with a lower-body injury and has missed six games. In December, Nico Daws was called up from the Utica Comets to help offer some depth and support. Twenty-two-year-old Daws underwent hip surgery in the offseason and, since his return, has posted a 6-7 record through his 13 games with the Devils. Daws has had five straight starts and was 3-1 coming into Tuesday’s match-up with the Capitals, which was a messy defensive showing and one of Daws’ weaker performances. Resulting in a 6-2 loss, the Devils lost out on valuable points towards a wild card spot.
The question now stands whether the Devils will shop for an additional goaltender and who they’ll be willing to part with in the exchange. The team has notably been linked to Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros and Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Saros was drafted by the Predators in 2013 and made his debut for the team in 2015. For the past couple of seasons, Saros has handled the bulk of goaltending responsibilities and accumulated winning records and an over .900 save percentage. This season, Saros has looked less confident in the crease and, while having some solid performances, has also had some shaky starts. His current record through the season is 21-21-2 with a .902 save percentage. His 3.02 goals against per game this season is currently less than that of Vanecek, Schmid, or Daws. Markstrom, who is an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-2026 season, is a veteran goaltender who has played for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames. Markstrom had a Vezina finalist performance in 2021-2022 but had a less successful season in 2022-2023. This year, he’s been on the rebound and has a .913 save percentage on the season through 35 games.
If the Devils were to deal for a goalie, it’s widely speculated that forward Alexander Holtz would be a part of the deal. Holtz has 24 points in 55 games for the Devils this season. While averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time per game, Holtz has had several outings, including the Stadium Series game, where he’s seen limited minutes. He’s been relegated to the fourth line and could potentially benefit from a fresh start with a new squad that could offer him more ice time and opportunities. Another potential trade candidate would be Dawson Mercer. The 22-year-old forward has played on the Devils third line and has been productive in generating offensive opportunities. Prospects such as Seamus Casey, Josh Filmon, and Arseni Gritsyuk could also be potential pieces in a trade. Additionally, the Devils hold a 2024 first-round draft pick that could be placed on the table in a trade discussion.
Whether the Devils attempt to make a move for a goalie will be dependent on how management sees this season playing out. Some fans and analysts alike are counting the Devils out for the playoffs and suggesting the team proceed as if this year is done for and next season’s preparation is the most pressing goal. Others would like to see the Devils put their hopes in a better second half and make changes in order to have more success and move up the standings. There’s also the possibility that Daws, Schmid, Vanecek, and Utica call-up Poulter can get the job done for the Devils, and no new face is needed. Daws has looked promising in his return from injury but has possibly hit a wall of fatigue coming into the Washington game. As of Wednesday, February 21st, the Devils have recalled Isaac Poulter from Utica and reassigned Schmid to the Comets. In his 24 games with Utica, Poulter has a 14-7-1 record. He stands to offer depth and options for the Devils going forward. Vanecek has had a disappointing season, and his current injury certainly doesn’t help his desire to turn things around. However, there’s always a possibility that he comes back feeling and performing better, looking more like the Vanecek of last year.
If the Devils do opt-in to acquire a new goaltender, it not only sends the message that management is in on making a serious push for the playoffs this year but can also jumpstart the team. A veteran’s tending presence can give them a newfound sense of confidence in the net. Consistency is key for the Devils moving forward, as they’ve yet to win or lose more than three games in a row this season. Solid goaltending is key to providing them opportunities to win consecutive games and move up the standings. With the trade deadline approaching on March 8th, the Devils need to make a quick decision about which approach they’ll take.
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