The New Jersey Devils aim to maintain the status quo on the backend by keeping their goaltending tandem of Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom intact. Right before free agency began, the Devils and Allen agreed to a new five-year contract that carries an average annual value of $1.8 million.
Jake Allen 5 years X $1.8 million to stay in NJ #njdevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2025
Jake Allen was the top goaltender on the market. There was a belief that he could secure a larger contract if he hit the open market on July 1. The belief was that Allen wanted to stay with the Devils as President and General Manager, and that Tom Fitzgerald wanted to bring him back. However, they needed to get to number that the team felt comfortable with.
“As far as goaltending, Jake Allen is one of the better ones on the market. His camp tells me he would like to stay. He really enjoyed his time here. We’re trying to figure out what that number is, and then does it work for us,” Fitzgerald told Mike Morreale of NHL.com.
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Fitzgerald said, at the year-end press conference, that “We liked our tandem. We felt it was one of the better tandems in the league.”
Tom Fitzgerald will look to keep the tandem of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen together.
He will speak with Allen’s agent about his future #NJDevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) May 8, 2025
Allen had a 13-16- 1 record in 31 appearances last season with the Devils. He filled in admirably when Markstrom went down with an injury. Allen had a 2.66 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage with four shutouts in 2024-25
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Per the New Jersey Devils, the contract breaks down as follows:
2025-26: $2,250,000
2026-27: $2,250,000
2027-28: $1,800,000
2028-29: $1,350,000
2029-30: $1,350,000
The Devils have their tandem set up as the team looks to extend Markstrom as well.
Connor Brown to the Devils
The New Jersey Devils were not done as Fitzgerald continues to change the bottom six with the signing of Connor Brown from the Edmonton Oilers. Brown signed a four year deal that carries a $3 million annual average value.
Connor Brown signing four years at $3 million a season.
We saw at times Brown play with McDavid in Edmonton
You hope you get that player in New Jersey #njdevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2025
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The Devils are getting a solid bottom-six forward who could play on the third line and, as we saw at times, play alongside Connor McDavid in Edmonton. He is a good penalty killer and can help five-on-five, an area the Devils struggled in last year.
Connor Brown, signed 4x$3M by NJ, is a middle six rushing winger who did a lot better in EDM in year two than year one. Can carry the puck in transition and generate chances for himself and his linemates.His skating ability makes him an asset defensively at 5v5 and the PK. pic.twitter.com/dqpCNUy9EJ
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025
As Brown told Sportsnet, he said New Jersey checked a lot of boxes and saw a good fit. He will also bring his leadership and experience from playing in the Stanley Cup Final two years in a row to change the mentality.
“It checked a lot of boxes for me and my wife and the little guy, and our dogs.”
Connor Brown speaks with the Hockey Central Signing Season panel after signing with the New Jersey Devils ? pic.twitter.com/HdoeTqqZMc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 1, 2025
Currently, the New Jersey Devils have $9,594,167 in cap space, according to PuckPedia.com.
