The New Jersey Devils Goalie Pipeline is strong with Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek

The state of the New Jersey Devils' goaltending was supposed to be solved with the additions of veterans Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. It is time to give some of the recently drafted goalies the Devils have a look to see if the future is bright in net.

Some of the goalies we will discuss in today's article are already in North America, but we'll spend more time on the goalies playing overseas. The New Jersey Devils already have Tyler Brennan in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder, plus Nico Daws and Isaac Poulter at the AHL level for the Utica Comets. Today, we are focusing on Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek.

Jakub Malek, the 2021100th-overall pick by the New Jersey Devils, hailing from Czechia, has been progressing forward in Finland's Liiga, now at age 22, showing a lot of poise and strong mechanics that have helped him since relocating from The Czech 2nd League (a step below the Czech Extraliga (Czech NHL). Having played in nine games this season, Jakub Malek has posted a 2.38 Goals Allowed Average and a .902 SV% while tallying his first shutout in Liiga.

His 6'4, 190lb frame and his lateral pushes have helped him prove to GM Tom Fitzgerald and his scout Tomas Sinisalo that he could be ready to head to North America after he finishes his contract by 2025-26 per Elite Prospects. In the three years post-draft, he has 58 games played and yielded a 2.26 Goals Allowed Average, .909 SV%, five career shutouts, and a 30-15-9 win-loss record. His playoff record in two seasons is six games, 2.12 GAA, .893 SV%, and a 2-4-0 win-loss record. It is only a matter of time in the near term before Malek makes it over to the NHL and comes in, while guys like Veeti Louhivaara take a little longer to develop in Finland, getting more games under his belt.

After trading away John Marino in a package deal to the Utah Hockey Club, the New Jersey Devils received a second-round pick that the Devils used to invest in getting a real stud of a goalie in Mikhail Yegorov.

Mikhail Yegorov tracks the plays in front of him very well and guards his post tightly sealed. He can make a heads-up poke check when opponents are tight on his crease. Yegorov does a stellar job slowing the pace down, freezing the puck when it's necessary. He looks locked in when in the butterfly, covering the lower portion of the net, and is great at snuffing out upcoming plays. This goalie looks very calm and confident in moving post to post laterally with ease.

During my scouting last year, I came up with thisGoalie Summary for Yegorov.

Skating: 10
Net Coverage: 10
Quickness: 8.50
Rebound Control: 9
Play Reading: 10
Technical: 10
Poise: 9.3
Puck Handling: 8.2

Last season was very bad for the Omaha Lancers, and a major reason why they were anywhere remotely competitive was when Mikhail Yegorov. With a better defense and a really strong new netminder this year in Kam Hendrickson splitting the heavy workload with Yegorov, things should be better.

After six games, the Russian goaltender has a 2.41 Goals Allowed Average, a 62% improvement over last season, and a .902 SV%. A lot of it for him is a lesser load, better defense in front of him, and knowing the tendencies of what to expect from other shooters using that big and athletic 6'5, 187 lb frame. So he has grown a bit more and gained more muscle to his frame. After this season, Mikhail Yegorov will be at Boston University.

The New Jersey Devils don't need to rush through any of their goaltending prospects, and at this point in time if the goalie tandem improves this season, then it makes it easier for the Devils to let the other goalies in the AHL and ECHL take on the work if Jake Allen doesn't perform well under Jacob Markstrom. It is a great asset that the New Jersey Devils have a succession plan for the near and long term. The key to improving the current goalie situation is to move on from Dave Rogalski for someone like Ian Clark.