New Jersey adds goaltending depth with the addition of Kallgren.

By the end of the 2022-23 season, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew his team was on the fast track to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. His young core got a taste of postseason hockey and now understands how difficult it is to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In this summer series, I will chronologically break down every move the organization made this offseason and discuss how it positively or negatively impacts the team for the 2023-24 season.

On July 1, GM Fitzgerald signed goaltender Erik Kallgren to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $450,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level for the 2023-24 campaign.

As I previously wrote, the Devils goaltending depth intrigues me. With training camp around the corner, Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid will be New Jersey's tandem to begin the season. Nico Daws, 22, will be sidelined until Christmas after undergoing offseason hip labrum surgery. That seemingly leaves Kallgren as the club's third-string goaltender at the NHL level and likely starter for their AHL affiliate, Utica Comets.

Previously, he was part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and last season recorded a 3-2-4 record with a 2.67 goals against average (GAA) and .898 save percentage. In addition to appearing in 10 games for the Maple Leafs, he played 24 games for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, earning a 10-9-2 record.

To learn more about the Swede, I contacted my THN colleagues David Alter and Nick Barden, who gave further insight into Kallgren.

The 26-year-old netminder needs consistency to blossom, and the constant back and forth from NHL to AHL the past two seasons did not do him any favors. Like Schmid, he could be classified as a netminder who performs better in a more structured league.

I often find the role of depth players fascinating. Most days, they play an insignificant role. They spend extra time on the ice working with the team's skill coaches and view games from the press box. That is until an injury occurs, and they finally get the opportunity they have been working so hard to prepare for.

Regarding Kallgren, at a moment's notice, he can be thrust into the spotlight and have the weight of the team's success on his shoulders. It is why he is my wild card entering the 2023-24 campaign.

If the Devils' season progresses without significant injuries, fans may only see Kallgren a few times when he is called up to give Vanecek or Schmid the occasional day off to rest. If one of the two mentioned above misses any time, Kallgren would be the next man up. Will he be able to provide stability in the crease if he is called upon?

During my conversation with Barden, he mentioned that there still could be something there regarding Kallgren becoming an NHL-caliber goaltender, citing that he's won an SHL (Swedish Hockey League) championship.

"He (has to) take the opportunity when (it's) given, and he hasn't done so yet," said Barden.

The unpredictability of the 82-game NHL schedule can be a make-or-break for depth players. It can give them a chance to make an impact when the team is faced with adversity. Will fans see Kallgren reach a new career-high for NHL games in a single season? Will he be put in a situation to become the Devils' dark horse? Only time will tell in a world where NHL teams are utilizing anywhere from two to five goaltenders in a single season.