How much cap space do the New Jersey Devils have for the 2024 NHL offseason?

Let’s give the New Jersey Devils credit: Despite the down season, they still managed to stay in what has been an intense race for the second wild card spot in the strangest ways. The Devils also didn’t play badly offensively for most of the season, and for that, they also deserve credit, with 255 goals through their first 78 contests, good for 3.26 per game. 

Defense and goaltending have been major issues, and the patchwork unit New Jersey acquired in the crease at the trade deadline never included a clear-cut 1A. That’s something they need this offseason, perhaps more than anything else, and with roughly $22.430 million in cap space, they may have enough to bring in a great player to help them return to a top-three spot in the Metropolitan.

That number ranks 12th in the NHL as the 2023-24 regular season nears its conclusion, but they will be extending qualifying offers to several pending restricted free agents this summer and making decisions on which unrestricted free agents to try and bring back. 

New Jersey Devils have enough cap space to address major position of need

Even if they decided to bring back most of their current unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents, the Devils will have enough space to make a trade that should land them a sound goaltender. Expect general manager Tom Fitzgerald to go in this direction, given the weaker goaltending class in free agency this summer, but we’ll see who ultimately ends up looking to sign with a new team when July 2024 rolls around. 

There is even a chance they will look to add one more sound asset to the blue line and gear up for making a big return to the playoffs in April 2025. Overall, this hockey team can score, but they need to figure out their issues on defense and in the crease. But if they manage that, Devils fans in Newark and around the world may be pleased with what the 2024-25 team may have in store.