There is no secret that last season the New Jersey Devils’ biggest weakness was in between the pipe. If the Devils even received league-average goaltending last season, the attitude around the team as well as where they finished in the standings would be much different. A fringe playoff team right outside looking in, instead of the fifth-worst team in the league would have been more likely.
As a team, the Devils ranked dead last in five-on-five save percentage and high-danger save percentage. The team’s save percentage in all situations also second to last. Per Evolving Hockey, the Devils had goaltenders ranked 98th, 99th, 101st, 111th, and 112th respectively in goals saved above expected (GSAx). A total of 118 goaltenders qualified.
So, it’s not secret general manager Tom Fitzgerald needs to address the position this offseason. There are two options for him to do so: free agency or via trade. This article will take a look at that free agent market and analyze some possible targets.
Best Fits
Darcy Kuemper
Arguably the top free agent goaltender this offseason is a new Stanley Cup champion. Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old has 10 NHL seasons under his belt. He owns a career save percentage of .910 which is a very strong figure. Outside of 2020-21, the Saskatchewan, Canada native has posted a save percentage of .920 or higher every season since 2016-17.
In six of his 10 NHL seasons he has posted a positive GSAx. Which basically means, Kuemper is saving more goals than he is expected based off the quality and quantity of the chances he is facing. He posted a career high GSAx mark of 15.77 last season. In five of his past six seasons he has posted a positive figure, the only negative being a -0.95 mark last year with Arizona.
He is being projected by Evolving Hockey to receive a six-year, $6,300,000 annual contract. This appears a tad rich for his capability especially given his age. A deal at around $6,000,000 for about four years seems much more friendly. Nonetheless, certainly a top option on the market. He would provide New Jersey with a healthy, competent, and clear number one goaltender for the first time in a long time.
Ville Husso
Husso is arguably the most intriguing free agent goaltender available. The 27-year-old only has two NHL seasons under his belt. They each went much differently.
His first NHL season was 2020-21 where Husso appeared in 17 games and struggled mightily. He posted a save percentage of .893 and a GSAx of -6.41. He bounced back in a big way this past season, basically winning the St. Louis starting goaltender job over Jordan Binnington. Husso posted a .919 save percentage and a starling 14.11 GSAx.
For comparisons sake, Husso’s GSAx number ranked seventh-best in the league (among 100-plus qualifiers). Devils’ goaltenders Nico Daws, Jon Gillies, and Mackenzie Blackwood posted figures of -10.14, -14.36, and -14.62, respectively.
Like many of the possible goaltending options, Husso would be a very risky bet. He has one very poor season and one very strong season in his extremely short NHL career. Where does the young Finnish goaltender project going forward? With such a small sample size, it’s very hard to project. That’s what makes him so risky.
Currently, Evolving Hockey is predicting Husso signing a four-year, $5,000,000 per season deal. This largely suppressed most likely due to his lackluster postseason where he posted a GSAx that ranked 22nd of 23 goaltenders that appeared in a playoff game. Another possible cause for concern.
Not only would Husso likely be a fit, albeit a risky one, with the Devils. According to Elliotte Friedman, current Devils’ goalie coach Dave Rogalski knows Husso well. At the right price Husso could serve as a nice compliment to Mackenzie Blackwood in a young 1A/1B goaltending tandem.
Note, most of this section is from our previously written article here.
Casey DeSmith
The above names are more so backup and true ‘1B’ option. The 30-year-old DeSmith has a respectable career .915 save percentage. He has yet to post a save percentage less than .912 in his career. Analytically, DeSmith has also been consistently slightly above average. He posted a career-low -1.00 GSAx last season, however, outside that the other three seasons have all been positive ratings.
DeSmith is certainly not the flashiest option on this list, but should provide less risk and a much cheaper price than some of the others listed. He projects out to be a true backup as he has only played more than 26 games in a season once, with the most games he has ever played in a season being 36 in a strong 2018-19. Nonetheless, would be a nice option for the Devils to pursue.
Possible Fits
Jack Campbell
Like Husso, former Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender Jack Campbell brings risk to whatever teams signs him. The 30-year-old Michigan native has played seven seasons in the NHL. He owns a career save percentage of .916 which is a solid number. However, a deeper dive into these figures can arise some questions.
Despite an above-average career save percentage, Campbell owns a career GSAx of -12.25 which is a worrisome figure. He started this season out terrifically, before falling off a cliff and ending the season with a -8.18 mark despite a good .914 save percentage. Basically, what that describes is Campbell was a large beneficiary of the team in front of him.
Further analysis into his GSAx numbers throughout his career paint a goalie of two extremes. His numbers over the past five seasons read: -8.18, 5.00, -6.72, 12.22, and -1.29. It appears Campbell as stretches where he is extremely good and others where he is not so much. As was on full display this past season.
All this paints a risky picture for whoever invests into Campbell. Currently, Evolving Hockey is projecting Campbell to sign a six-year deal worth $5,700,000 annually. This, once again, given his age appears a little rich. As a three or four-year deal in the mid-$5,000,000 range seems more feasible. Regardless, despite being a more risky option, Campbell is certainly someone the Devils can turn to in supplement with Blackwood.
Braden Holtby
The former Washington Capitals’ goaltender had a bounce back year with Dallas last season. The Canadien who owns a career .915 save percentage had a woeful end to his Capitals’ career then a struggle of a season in Vancouver. This past season he rebounded in Dallas turning in a .913 save percentage. His best year since 2018-19.
Despite bouncing back save percentage wise, Hotly still posted a negative GSAx number (-1.12). However, as mentioned, this was his best mark since he saved 10.06 goals above expected in 2018-19. His previous two seasons he posted figures of -12.82 and -7.91. Holtby had a run where he posted a positive GSAx in seven of nine years before posting negative figures in each of his last three.
As you can tell, the 32-year-old’s best play is likely behind him. If last season is any indication, maybe he can be a reliable “1B” option going forward. If New Jersey believes so, it would not be surprising if they want to give the grizzled veteran a chance on a short-term deal to compliment Blackwood. Although there are certainly better options out there.
Eric Comrie
The 26-year-old actually had a very brief stint with the New Jersey Devils last season where he started one game and saved 30 of 33 shots. This season, Comrie played in 19 games for Winnipeg and turned in a terrific season in a backup role being Connor Hellebuyck.
Comrie posted a ,920 save percentage and 10-5-1 record for the Jets. His 9.89 GSAx ranked 14th in the league this year of 118 qualified goaltenders. Now, up until this season Comrie only had eight NHL starts. So, if the Devils were to bring Comrie in, they would really be banking on being what he was this past season. Does New Jersey want to put all their eggs in this basket? Most likely not, but an option to keep an eye on nonetheless.
Not A Fit
Marc-Andre Fleury
The decorated, future Hall of Fame goaltender is winding down his NHL career. For this reason, it appears unlikely that the New Jersey Devils would be a possible landing spot.
The 37-year-old did also have one of the poorer seasons of his career as is evident by a .908 save percentage and GSAx of -12.62. However, given he is only a couple years removed from a Vezina Trophy and all the veteran experience he has, New Jersey probably will at least do their homework on him.
Jaroslav Halak
One of the more underrated and consistent goaltenders throughout his career, the 37-year-old Czechoslovakia native is likely nearing the end. He posted one of the worst save percentages in his career of .903 last season. His -0.75 GSAx also shows he struggled at times, but the season may not of been as bad as it appears on the face.
Despite posting a positive GSAx in six of his last nine seasons, its’ likely the Devils stay away. Especially given the team’s luck with older goaltenders nearing the end of their career in the past.
Thomas Greiss
Like the other two on this list, the 36-year-old German is also nearing retirement. He also is enduring a severe regression that further signifies it may be time to hang it up. Over the past three seasons, Greiss has posted GSAx of -2.76, -5.79, and a -13.73 figure last season. Just appears to no longer be a fit for the Devils.
Stay Far, Far Away
The rest of the free agent goaltending market is a grouping of goaltenders who the Devils would certainly not pursue based off performance or age: Martin Jones, Kevin Lankinen, Dustin Tokarski, Jon Gillies, David Rittich, Aaron Dell, Andrew Hammond, and Colin Delia.
Conclusion
Overall, the free agent goaltending market is one that poses a lot of questions. Several of the top options are extremely risky endeavors. With the Devils’ goaltending situation, and how recent free agent signings have panned out, the Devils may be wise in turning to the trade market for a goaltender. Names such as James Reimer, Semyon Varlamov, Laurent Brossoit, and Alexandar Georgiev all could make sense.
However, if the Devils wish to turn to the free agency market, the above are the options they have to choose from.
Other Offseason Content:
- Preview:
- Quick Offseason Overview
- Internal Free Agents (UFAs and RFAs)
- Draft Profiles:
- Free Agent Articles:
- Possible Trade Targets:
Note, analytics per Evolving Hockey.