The theme of the 2021-22 New Jersey Devils’ season has been goaltending. The team ranks 31st in goals saved above expected and is the sole reason New Jersey is not in a competitive spot this season. As the below table shows, not a single Devils’ goaltender has saved more than expected this season. Almost everyone has struggled.
| Goaltender | Goals Saved Above Expected (League Rank out of 103 qualified) |
| Nico Daws | -0.75 (49th) |
| Jonathan Bernier | -1.98 (57th) |
| Akira Schmid | -9.66 (93rd) |
| Jon Gillies | -11.16 (98th) |
| MacKenzie Blackwood | -11.73 (100th) |
Luckily, the New Jersey Devils are well aware of their major goaltending issues. According to Pierre LeBrun on TSN’s Insider Trading, the New Jersey Devils are, “aggressively calling around the league about a goaltender for the rest of the season.”
What Should New Jersey be Looking for?
As it stands, the Devils have two current options before the NHL trade deadline on March 21st. The team can either trade for a short-term fix for the rest of the season, or trade for someone that will be around past this season. A longer-term fix if you will.
The Devils only have about a 35% of the season left. Given the team’s record, they are certainly all but eliminated from playoff contention. So, what would be the point of trading any type of valuable assets for a short-term fix? Sure, if New Jersey can bring someone in on the cheap, say a fifth-or-later round draft pick – which is certainly realistic. So be it.
However, according to NHL Rumors Daily on Twitter, New Jersey is, “still after a goalie, and just not a sieve guy either. A guy to potentially push Blackwood.” This would make much more sense given the uncertainty surrounding Bernier’s season-ending injury. As given his age, and the type of injury (hip), it is yet to be determined if he will be able to play out the finally year of his two-year contract next season. So, it would behoove general manager Tom Fitzgerald to not bring someone in. Whether it be now, or during the offseason.
Worth pointing out, the Devils currently have $6,925,000 tied up in two goaltenders next season. Of course, this number can change if Bernier is placed on long-term injured-reserve and misses next year. However, that is yet to be seen.
The Options
Short-Term Fixes:
Anton Forsberg
The 29-year old has done terrific work behind a dreadful Ottawa team. He has a .917 save percentage and has saved 2.88 goals above expected in 22 starts. Given Matt Murray has seemingly figured his struggles out, this may make Forsberg expendable.
Forsberg is a pending unrestricted free agent. So, he will most likely cost very little to bring over. However, given this, there is a real chance he would not be with the team next year. Nonetheless, if general manager Tom Fitzgerald wishes to patch it up the rest of the season, while Bernier and Blackwood are further evaluated, Forsberg would be a good option.
Pavel Francouz
Since coming to the NHL in 2018, Francouz has done nothing but produce. He has a career .923 save percentage in 38 starts and has saved 1.85 goals above expected in only eight starts this season.
Like Forsberg, Francouz is also a pending unrestricted free agent. However, unlike him, Colorado is most likely not motivated to move Francouz unless they bring someone else in. So, even if New Jersey wants to pursue the Czechia-native, he may not be for sale.
Longer-Term Options:
Chris Driedger
Unfortunately, for both Seattle and Driedger, this season has not gone to plan. The former Florida Panther ranks 89th in the league in goals above expected. So, why would New Jersey think about pursuing a goalie putting up similar numbers to what their current goaltending group is?
Well, every season but the current he has been strong. In 2019-20, he saved 7.39 goals above expected and in 2020-21, he saved 7.36 above expected. Driedger is not the goaltender he is showing to be this season. Is he a seven-plus goal saved above average goaltender a season? Probably not, But he is certainly an above-average goalie in this league.
The interesting aspect is his contract. He signed a three-year deal with Seattle last offseason for $3,500,000 per year. At his best, this is a steal for the 27-year old. At what he currently is, not so much. Can this help the Devils land him at a discounted price? It is worth noting, he does have a 10-team no-trade clause. So, all this might be for not if New Jersey was to be included on that list.
Laurent Brossoit
Brossoit has been one of the more underrated backup goaltenders in the league for the past few seasons. He backed up Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg for three seasons where he posted a .913 save percentage. This season, he is backing up Robin Lehner in Vegas where he has saved 3.87 goals above expected. So, his .903 save percentage is a bit deceiving.
Brossoit is under contract for only $2,325,000 the rest of this year and that same figure next season. Like Francouz, it remains to be seen if Vegas would move him. However, there is rumors that Vegas is trying to upgrade in net. If they do so, that would most likely make Brossoit expendable at an affordable price.
Anthony Stolarz
The New Jersey native and former Philadelphia Flyer is having a career-year in Anaheim. He has made 14 starts where he has an impressive .920 save percentage. His 3.88 goals saved above expected ranks 20th in the league of 103 qualified goaltenders.
Across his six-year career, he has saved a total of 2.19 goals above average. If you take out a horrible 2018-19 season, this number shoots up to 7.68. When he has gotten consistent playing time, he has performed above-average. Stolarz is under contract for another season at only $950,000. Like many on this list, it remains to be seen if Anaheim would part with him. If they would, he likely would not cost much and would be a sneaky solid option.
Other Options
Of course, there are several other options. Ville Husso has been brought up by many but he is having a Vezina-finalist type season and would cost way too much for a pending free agent. If New Jersey pursues him in the offseason, caution should be exercised. Adin Hill is another option who is under contract for next season. However, he has just not panned out in San Jose and his career numbers (career -10.76 goals saved above average) are not good.
Semyon Varlamov is another name to monitor. He has been rumored on the block, but is 33-years old and has a cap-hit of $5,000,000 the rest of this year and next season. Combine his age with the fact New Jersey would have nearly $11,000,000 tied up in three goaltenders next season, he seems unlikely.
Alexander Georgiev’s name is always on the market but has struggled immensely the past three seasons and will most likely cost a price that New Jersey should not be willing to pay. Jake Allen is also almost back to full health, but has not performed as well as his traditional numbers may indicate as of late and is on a steep decline.
Of course, there are several other options. But all the above are the ones that may make the most sense for New Jersey.
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