It’s only one game, but Jacob Markstrom is exactly who the New Jersey Devils needed to get this offseason. New Jersey opened the season in Prague, Czechia, taking on the Buffalo Sabres as part of the 2024 Global Series. The Devils defeated the Sabres 4-1, and Markstrom was the story of this one – not to mention the other new guys in the lineup.
How the Jacob Markstrom Trade to New Jersey Came About
It has been well documented how long Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald wanted to trade for Markstrom – since January. Talks go back even further to November 2023. In addition, Jacob Markstrom made it known through comments in the Calgary media that he was heading to New Jersey at the deadline. In addition, the Devils were the only team to which he was willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Markstrom arrived in New Jersey in the summer, and in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, he showed why he is the Devils true number one starter. The game started in the first period with a few highlight-reel saves, none more significant than the one on Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
Markstrom came up with the save of the year in Game 1 of the season. He stuck out his paddle – as Kevin Weekes said, “He looked like Roger Federer reaching back with the racquet,” to ensure the puck did not go into the net on a redirected shot from Rasmus Dahlin. The Devils had just made it 2-0 and had the momentum. This save was a game changer something the Devils rarely got last season.
JACOB MARKSTROM ARE YOU SERIOUS?! ? #NHLGlobalSeries
A save of the year candidate in the first game of the season!
??: @NHLNetwork
??: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/1UIegYWVc4— NHL (@NHL) October 4, 2024
“It’s just desperation. I got lucky, and it hit my stick,” Markstrom said after the game. “It’s a good time to get lucky.”
NHL Rumors: Will the New Jersey Devils Extend Jacob Markstrom and What is Next?
While Markstrom did not think much of the save, knowing there was a lot of hockey left to play, his teammates knew how big that save was and what it meant to have a guy like Markstrom as their goaltender.
“Yeah, that was, and there was so much chaos that it was like, I don’t think everyone caught it, but it was, yeah, hell of a save,” Jonathan Kovacevic said post-game on the save Markstrom made. “I did catch that. And he was an absolute brick wall for us tonight.”
Having a goaltender of Markstrom’s calibre gives the players confidence in front of him to play their game and keep momentum throughout the game.
“Gives us momentum, I feel like so solid,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said post-game when asked about Markstrom’s play. “He played really well game, and it’s just great seeing him so confident back there and not a lot of loose pucks, holding the pucks, and yeah, just great to have Marky in the net.”
There was a reason why Tom Fitzgerald addressed his goaltending this offseason and received a high letter grade of an A by DevilsNation.com. Goaltending is so important. Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid, and Nico Daws did not give the Devils that last year. And with all the goalies the Devils have gone through over the last couple of seasons, there is a reason why it was a priority.
“I couldn’t exactly tell how that one stayed out, which is usually a sign that the goalie did something incredible,” Sheldon Keefe said after the game on the save by Markstrom. “He was great. It goes without saying how important goaltending is. That’s why Fitz prioritized it this summer.”
Grading the New Jersey Devils Offseason: Part 1 – Goaltending
It allows a coach to sleep easier at night when a guy like Markstrom is between the pipes. Markstrom finished the night, stopping 30 of 31 shots with a .968 save percentage and one goal against. He stopped five of six higher danger zone chances in the contest.
In addition to Markstrom, the other newcomers to the team, Stefan Noesen, Kovacevic, and Paul Cotter, each recorded a goal. Nico Hischer scored a goal in the Devil’s 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
But the story of the game was Jacob Markstrom. If the Devils get goaltending like this from Markstrom on a nightly basis, there is a chance they could make a deep run. Again, it is just one game, but Markstrom is the difference maker the Devils needed.
