The New Jersey Devils have come to a decision (and action) when it comes to the immediate future of the goalie position, and it hasn't been one that has left too many fans pleased with the end result.
On Friday night, the Devils announced they had signed veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom to a two-year contract extension worth $12 million ($6 million AAV), which is not only rich, but also comes at a time when the 35-year-old is toting an astronomical 5.13 GAA and porous .830 save percentage.
With that piece of business done and dusted, the Devils now have Markstrom and 35-year-old Jake Allen under contract until 2028. Allen has a full no-trade clause for this season and 2026-27, while Markstrom reportedly has a modified no-trade clause in his contract.
Effectively, that means those two are tied down in New Jersey unless the roof totally collapses faster than the Devils hoped or imagined. By extension, it also seals Nico Daws's fate as a Devils player and prospect.
Daws, 24, is hardly a prospect anymore and has been knocking on the door trying to earn a full-time NHL role since the 2021-22 season and, despite strong performances this year and last year in the wake of Markstrom injuries, it's clear he's no longer part of the future of the New Jersey Devils.
The former-third round pick already requires waivers to pass back and forth between the NHL and AHL, and it's clear he won't be taking on an NHL role with the Devils unless something significant were to happen to either Markstrom or Allen.
Daws is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, but, given that he is in the last year of his contract, the Devils probably should have, or should in the near future, trade him for something. The more he comes up and plays well, the less likely he is to pass through waivers the next time he has to go back.
For the sake of comparison, a younger option, like a Devon Levi, is still waivers-exempt for 21 more games or one more season, and that would buy the Devils some time to see where things go with the aging duo of Markstrom and Allen.
Jakub Malek hasn't played well in the AHL and isn't anywhere near ready, and as special as Mikhail Yegorov is, it would be unwise to put all the eggs in his basket and bank on him being ready for the NHL fresh out of college.
However the Devils decide to proceed, they must do so carefully, because time is ticking on their two seasoned goalies and they soon won't be flush with more intermediate options once Daws inevitably departs the organization.