April 16, 2024 | 11:42am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

DEVILS TO ADDRESS GOALTENDING IN SUMMER

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald

With their 2023-24 season now complete, the New Jersey Devils will begin planning for the off-season and start the process of adding to their roster ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Devils missed the playoffs this season after posting a 38-39-5 record. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, who will address the media in the coming days, is expected to make a few additions this summer in hope of improving his roster for next season.

One area the club is expected to address is goaltending, even after acquiring netminder Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens last month prior to the trade deadline.

Allen, who turns 34 in August, has one more year left on his contract at a $1.925 million salary cap hit against New Jersey’s cap. If the Devils add a new No.1 netminder this summer, Allen will serve as the club’s backup.

The Devils almost acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames during the season but the deal fell through after the Flames were not willing to retain a portion of Markstrom’s contract. Those conversations are expected to pick up this off-season and could result in a new agreement, as Markstrom was willing to waive his no-movement clause for New Jersey.

Markstrom, 34, has two more years remaining on his contract and comes with a $6 million salary cap hit.

If the Devils are unable to acquire Markstrom from Calgary, they could shift their focus to Boston’s Linus Ullmark or Nashville’s Juuse Saros, both of whom are expected to be on the move this summer, as well. Fitzgerald could also explore alternative options.

The Devils have six players set to become unrestricted free agents July 1: forwards Tomas Nosek and Chris Tierney, defencemen Brendan Smith, Kurtis MacDermid and Nick DeSimone, and goalie Kaapo Kahkonen.

Fitzgerald has already been engaged in contract negotiations with MacDermid’s camp and would like to re-sign him to a new deal.

With the salary cap climbing to $87.5 million next season, the Devils have just over $21.3 million in cap space to play with.