5. Corey Schwab
The New Jersey Devils have had Dave Rogalski since 2020 as their goaltending coach, rounding out Lindy Ruff’s first staff. He’s been there ever since, and there has been rocky goaltending literally the entire time. The Devils have had 13 goalies play at least one NHL game since then, which feels preposterous. This doesn’t even include the insane Corey Crawford saga in 2021. Rogalski hasn’t had an easy deal, but this position is just too important in 2024-25.
The Devils cannot lose any more seasons from goaltending. Now, that’s more up to Fitzgerald to find a true number-one goalie to finally settle this position, but it’s also up to the coach to get the most out of the talent. With, say, Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen holding court, they don’t need traditional coaching. However, they need a goalie coach who can lead them in hard times. Enter Corey Schwab.
Schwab has been one of the best coaches in the league, getting the most out of names like Karel Vejmelka and Connor Ingram. He also helped with the development of stars like Adin Hill and Darcy Kuemper. Honestly, the Coyotes have always had a decent option under Schwab. It wasn’t always the same player, but there was a player who was reliable.
The issue here is about availability. Why would Schwab be available? Well, the Coyotes are no more. The team is moving to Utah for a yet-to-be-named franchise. Andre Tourigney is going with them, but we haven’t had clarity on who will go with them. If Schwab doesn’t want to live in Utah, why not come to New Jersey where he already has a history?