5 New Jersey Devils players who won’t return next season

Kaapo Kahkonen is far less likely to return than Jake Allen

Kaapo Kahkonen could be in higher demand this summer if he continues to play well during what has so far been a limited sample size in New Jersey. Acquired near the deadline for the ineffective Vitek Vanecek, Kahkonen wasn’t faring well with a tanking San Jose Sharks team, but in New Jersey, that hasn’t been the case. 

While he’s won just one of his three matchups as of March 28th, Kahkonen also has a 2.17 GAA, a 0.934 save percentage, plus his only shutout of the season. He’s on par with his actual goals allowed vs. xGA at even strength, and if he continues this trend, he could be in for a pay raise come July. 

It won’t happen in Newark though, with Jake Allen slated to have another season left on his contract. Allen would factor in as the 1B, or at most, in a timeshare role next year while the Devils sign an under-the-radar goaltender, or perhaps they go all-in with a clear-cut 1A like Jeremy Swayman.

This would provide far more stability for the Devils goaltending in the 2024-25 season, which would be a huge win for New Jersey. Meanwhile, Kahkonen also wins if he keeps using Newark as a hub to take his career up another rung.