New Jersey Devils: 3 Reasons to be Optimistic About 2024-25 Season

3. Strong goaltending

Again, there isn’t one element entirely to blame for the Devils’ failure to make the playoffs. However, goaltending was a huge part of why they didn’t. Goaltending should have been addressed last offseason, but it wasn’t. Hopefully, it will be addressed this offseason.

Vitek Vanecek had an abysmal season, Akira Schmid struggled, and Nico Daws was up and down with some moments of brilliance and uncertainty. By the time Tom Fitzgerald pulled off trades for Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen, it was too late. The move for Kahkonen was about getting Vanecek out of town since he has a year remaining on his contract, while Kahkonen does not. Allen, on the other hand, has proven he can be the 1B, although Daws has shown potential for the role, and so has Schmid. 

Regardless, the Devils still need a starting goalie. We’ve discussed the options in free agency and the trade market, both the more obvious and the less obvious ones. Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators are two possible targets.

A strong goalie can steal games, as well as keep their team in the close games. The Devils didn’t get a lot of that this year, and it was costly, especially considering the defense went through a lot of growing pains. Stability between the pipes next season will bring the Devils a huge boost.

The disappointment of 2023-24 will sting for a while. Next season, the Devils have the opportunity to wash that away and turn the tide.