The New Jersey Devils still have work to do before the season starts. The big one is Luke Hughes, and as of right now, he remains unsigned. A deal will be finalized soon, and it will be one less thing to worry about. However, there's another contract that is expiring at the end of the 25-26 season that has a major impact. Heading into this year, general manager Tom Fitzgerald will have to make a decision on the future of his club between the pipes.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom is entering the final campaign of his six-year pact that he signed before 2020-21 with the Calgary Flames. He's coming off a solid first year in the Garden State and has solidified the goaltending in New Jersey for the present alongside recently re-signed Jake Allen. The Devils know the clock is ticking when it comes to Markstrom, and there's a desire for the 35-year-old netminder to stay with the Devils beyond this season.
"“If [Tom Fitzgerald] is calling, I’m answering," Markstrom said"Via James Nichols of NJ Hockey Now
So, with that in mind, the question becomes: what kind of deal could both parties agree upon? There are a few factors. The first, as mentioned before, Markstrom is in his mid-30s, and most goalies tend to decline in their skills as they reach 40. Another is the young netminders coming up, and when they will take the reins from Markstrom. Guys like Nico Daws, Mikhail Yegorov, and Jakub Málek are all waiting in the wings to be the guy between the pipes.
The next question is how long and how much a new contract for the Swedish goaltender will be. Despite being out over a month due to an injury, Markstrom was mostly as advertised in his first season with the Devils. He finished the regular season, posting a 26-16-6 record with 2.50 GAA, and a .900 SV%. While playing in only five games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Markstrom did as much as he could to keep his team in it, finishing with a 2.88 GAA and a .911 SV%, including an unreal performance in overtime of game five vs the Carolina Hurricanes despite losing.
If Markstrom can perform at the same or perhaps even at a higher level, that gives the Devils a strong chance to go deeper into the playoffs this season. So, what does a potential contract look like? Before any other moves are made, the Devils will have just over $24 million in projected cap space in the 2026 offseason.
According to AFP Analytics, Markstrom is projected to be given a 2-year deal at $5.5 million AAV. While that is less than what he's making now, the cap hit will be higher than the $4.125 he has now.
That will end when Markstrom is 38 years old. By that time, it's likely to assume he will be at the end of his career. Is it a risk? For sure, but one that Fitzgerlad will have to take to keep his team's contending window going. The time to strike is now, and keeping Markstrom here is part of that. While negotiations haven't started yet, it's only a matter of time before they begin for both sides.