The New Jersey Devils finally solved their goaltending issue when they acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames in June 2024. For most of the 2023-24 season, Devils President and General Manager had his eye on Markstrom. Fitzgerald was able to get his man to go along with Jake Allen, giving the Devils one of the better tandems in the NHL.
The New Jersey Devils Can’t Measure Depth Scoring
With Allen locked up to a new five-year contract worth $9 million, with an AAV of $ 1.8 million per season, the Devils are poised to lock up their tandem for the Stanley Cup Championship window that is opening. As Kevin Weekes reported, the New Jersey Devils and Jacob Markstrom are talking extensions. The initial offer proposed is a four-year deal worth $5 million per season.
Per sources, I’m told initial offer was in the $5M per year range from @NJDevils on a potential contract extension with Markstrom . #NJDevils #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/8d6ibgghGB
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) September 28, 2025
At the end of the season, after a disappointing five-game series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Jacob Markstrom told the media he was willing to sign an extension right then and there. That is how much he believed in the New Jersey Devils.
Tom Fitzgerald discussed extending goaltender Jacob Markstrom #njdevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) September 18, 2025
Remember, Markstrom was eligible to sign an extension as of July 1, 2025. Tom Fitzgerald, during his opening season press conference, discussed his work on extending Markstrom. So the seeds have been planted. They were planted back in May when the GM of the team stated he wanted to keep both Allen and Markstrom.
The Devils want to keep this tandem together.
Not surprised by the length or the term.
The Devils window to win is open. They have addressed goaltending and like what they have between the pipes. It is a solid tandem.
Remember Flames are retaining some of his salary on his… https://t.co/VnDeoergbE
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) September 28, 2025
Both complement the other so well. Both goalies have stated that publicly. They were well off from one another. To have that security blanket between the pipes, the Devils and Markstrom must come to a reasonable agreement.
Jacob Markstrom Continues To Be A Difference Maker for the Devils
Markstrom is in the final year of the deal that he signed with the Calgary Flames. It carries an AAV of $6 million. The Devils have a cap hit of $4.125 million, while the Flames retain $1.875 million, which is 31.25 percent of the total. Give his play last year, especially in the playoffs and the time he was out injured, $5 million over four years is not that bad with the cap going up.
You also have to take into account the playoff salary cap going into effect for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Having players on reasonable contracts allows you to field a better team. So, say Markstrom comes in at $5 million or even $5.5 million, that means the Devils would either have $6.5 million for two goalies on their roster or $7 million.
While either number, especially the initial offer of $5 million, is less than what he is making, Markstrom is 35 years old. This is a 20-something-year-old young goalie. Both guys are getting up in age. Given the market, this is a reasonable number. You know there will be trade clauses thrown in. Perhaps consider incorporating sliding trade clauses and making it buyout-proof.
NHL Rumors: Will the New Jersey Devils Extend Jacob Markstrom and What is Next?
Jacob Markstrom has been everything and more for the Devils. In 49 games started, he had a record of 26-16-6 with a 2.50 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Markstrom admitted at the end of the season that he knows he can be better by making a fix here or there. However, with offensive production increasing, the league’s save percentage has decreased. Currently, the average is approximately 0.903.
Though he missed time last season, in the playoffs, Markstrom was magnificent, especially in Game 5, as he was the reason it went to double overtime. If not for his heroics and settling down after the Devils blew a 3-0 lead, Carolina would have won the game in regulation. He did everything he could to extend the series for the Devils.
But the Devils found their number one guy in Jacob Markstrom as they look to lock him up to help bring a championship back to New Jersey.
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