Although the New Jersey Devils are linked to some Vezina Trophy-caliber netminders, Tom Fitzgerald could think outside that group for another experienced netminder like Vegas Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson.

The New Jersey Devils have recently been linked to some high-profile netminders, namely Jacob Markstrom (Calgary), Linus Ullmark (Boston), and Juuse Saros (Nashville). 

All three are their team's number-one goalies, with Ullmark being a former Vezina Trophy winner and Markstrom and Saros being finalists.

At the start of 2024-25, Jake Allen will still be in the rotation, playing out the final season of his $1.925 million contract, but that hasn't stopped the Devils from being in the rumor mill for an upgrade between the pipes.

Allen is 33 with a career record of 195-168-42, going 11-12 in the postseason and earning a Stanley Cup ring in 2019 with St. Louis as a backup.

Meanwhile, Markstrom, Ullmark, and Saros have never won a championship and combined for a 21-30 playoff record.

Although most teams needing an upgrade in the crease are interested in those three, they should be aware that Ullmark and Saros will become free agents in 2025, followed by Markstrom in 2026. 

A long-term deal with any of them could ultimately hurt New Jersey when it expires in four or five seasons since they would be in their mid-to-late 30s.

However, if Fitzgerald thought outside the box, he should be looking at the 2025 free agency class and trying to find a younger, experienced goalie who could fill the team's needs.

One of the top ones available is Vegas Golden Knights' goalie Logan Thompson.

Thompson Could Be the Difference in Goal for New Jersey

Looking ahead to the 2025 goalie free agency class, some big names like Alexandar Georgiev, Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Adin Hill, and Joseph Woll are there. 

Thompson is one of the most intriguing names on the list, and it stands at 39 netminders.

In 103 games, he's earned a 95-56-32 record with a .912 SV%, 2.67 GAA, and four shutouts. Thompson was also a member of the Golden Knights team that won the Stanley Cup in 2023, where he played a pivotal role in helping the team win the Pacific Division en route to the title.

Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from skating the playoffs that year. He only made his playoff debut in 2024 during a six-game series loss to the Dallas Stars.

Thompson has already appeared in an NHL All-Star Game (2023) and will be 28 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025.

Of the three netminders on the Vegas payroll, Hill makes $4.9 million, while Robin Lehner earns $5 million while remaining on LTIR. 

Thompson is providing above-average goaltending on a merger $766,667 salary.

Even though he'll get a significant pay increase on his next deal, Fitzgerald could try to swing a deal with the Golden Knights and acquire Thompson for less than it would cost to acquire Ullmark, Markstrom, or Saros.

He's proven capable of easily playing 30 to 40 games a season and handling the responsibilities of a number-one goalie. 

Since Fitzgerald cannot obtain someone like Shesterkin or Oettinger, he could turn his attention to Thompson, who could end up being a below-the-radar acquisition for any team. 

Given how tight Vegas is against the salary cap, the deconstruction of their championship roster will begin in 2024 and most likely continue in 2025. Hill appears to be the number one, making Thompson expandable to free up some cap space.

This mismanagement of the Golden Knights' finances should be exploited by another General Manager, which is why Fitzgerald would be wise to pursue Thompson for less than market value and land a goalie to bank on for the next half-decade.