The New Jersey Devils were in talks for a good amount of time before finally agreeing to an extension with Jacob Markstrom that would keep him in Newark for the next two years beyond this season. It seemed as though Markstrom's camp wanted a long-term deal that would keep him as a Devil for the next four to five years, as a 35-year-old goalie that would be hard for general manager Tom Fitzgerald to pull the trigger on.
Jacob Markstrom hasn't had the prettiest start to the season, so the timing of this extension has the fanbase questioning why it was done now.
In four games played, Markstrom has a .830 SV%, 5.13 GAA, along with a 2-2 record. Now the start against the Avalanche inflated those numbers as he gave up eight goals, but that's not an excuse for his lackluster play in net. Since being traded from Calgary to New Jersey in 2024, Markstrom has a 2.84 GAA in 53 games, along with a 28-18-6 record. He is capable of having great games in net; the problem is staying consistent. New Jersey secures a somewhat above-average goalie while planning for the future.
This deal does well for both sides for now and the future simply because of the amount of years given to Markstrom. With just two years left of Markstrom in net, this leaves the door open for Mikhail Yegorov and Malek. If you don't know about these goalie prospects, it's time to start paying attention.
Yegorov is a Russian goaltender who is currently playing at Boston University, drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft. The 6'5 goalie looks like he has a bright future with New Jersey, a goaltender who just looks comfortable in net.
As for Jakub Malek, he's a 23-year-old goalie who is currently playing for the Utica Comets. The Czechia goaltender is 6'4 "and was drafted in the fourth round by the New Jersey Devils in 2024. With Jake Allen also getting up there in age, Tom Fitzgerald seems to have his eyes set on the future, potentially making Yegorov and Malek the duo in years to come.
But first, he has a veteran duo that should keep the Devils in contention. That's important for a team with all their stars entering their primes.