New Jersey Devils: 5 Under-the-Radar Goalie Trade Options
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils have been tied to just about every goalie who has come on the trade market. Connor Hellebuyck, John Gibson, and Jake Allen are just some of the options the Devils have been tied to. We’re not talking about them here. There will be no Juuse Saros or Jeremy Swayman. This is trying to find those trade options that can come out of nowhere.
Tom Fitzgerald shocked a lot of people when he traded for Vitek Vanecek last season. We actually suggested the Devils trade for Ilya Samsonov instead. We’re looking for another surprise. A player that hasn’t been outright in trade rumors but could still move now or in the season.
Marc-Andre Fleury
This one has been mentioned a little by fans, but there has been no actual talk of Marc-Andre Fleury going anywhere. He’s said he wants to stay with the Minnesota Wild, so a trade is not likely before the season starts. However, if Filip Gustavsson takes the net and Fleury becomes a true backup, he might be more open to a trade.
This is where the Devils can step in. Fleury would be more trustworthy in the playoffs. He can still hold starter minutes. The Devils really need a veteran who can hold his own in the playoffs.
Fleury wasn’t great in the playoffs. He was actually really bad, allowing seven goals against Dallas on just 31 shots against. However, that’s just one game. Fleury has a whole career of showing up in the postseason. In 2021, he had a .918 save percentage in 16 playoff games for Vegas. In his first season in Minnesota, he had a .906 save percentage in five games. This felt like a one-off, and he should be a trustworthy option.