5 Goalies That Can Save New Jersey Devils Next Season
By Nick Villano
![Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks stretches in warmups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 15, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks stretches in warmups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 15, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/84d5e89eff41ac572c26cbd79459bc451999c90aedcbb88244238a70212452ef.jpg)
Jack Campbell
Jack Campbell is another free agent goaltender that is going to get paid. He’s a little younger than Kuemper, and his numbers are roughly the same. He doesn’t have the track record of Kuemper as he was a late bloomer, but he has been really good the past two seasons. This season, he’s posting a .921 save percentage, the same as Kuemper. He’s posted four shutouts in 33 starts. Campbell has been in a position to win, and he helps put the Maple Leafs over the top.
The issue here again is price. Campbell wants to stay in Toronto, and the Maple Leafs want to bring him back. The only thing taking him out of the Mecca of hockey is straight cash. Campbell is making $1.65 million this season. He is wildly underpaid. He will need a huge payday to make up for lost paychecks. Right now, it doesn’t sound like the Maple Leafs are willing to do that.
However, the Devils might not be willing to do that either. It’s going to cost probably about the same price as Kuemper to sway Campbell to come across the northern border and head to New Jersey. With only two elite options in free agency, it’s going to lead to bidding wars across the league. The Edmonton Oilers might be looking to swing some cap space around with Mikko Koskinen leaving in free agency.
This again seems like it might be out of the Devils price range, but never say never. If Tom Fitzgerald is desperate to end this goaltending drought, there are options to make it happen in free agency. But what about trade? Could the Devils trade for a savior?