Pierre LeBrun provided an update on the New Jersey Devils pursuit of Jacob Markstrom.

Pierre LeBrun provided an update on the New Jersey Devils' pursuit of Jacob Markstrom. 

The Devils have been looking for a goaltender for quite some time now. Their current goalies, Nico Daws, Vitek Vance and Akira Schmid have failed to provide them with consistent stability. All three goaltenders have a sub .900 save percentage. The Devils are tied for the second-worst save percentage in the NHL. 

Markstrom had an offseason last year posting a .892 SV% but this season Markstrom has bounced back in a big way. On a Flames team that is struggling to win games and are sellers at the trade deadline, Markstrom is a bright spot. Markstrom is posting a .914 SV% and a 2.56 goals-against average. 

Markstrom has two years left after this season on his contract and has an AAV of $6M. The Devils have been linked to Markstrom for almost the entire season and a trade failed a couple of weeks ago because of Markstrom's cap hit after this season but today LeBrun reported that the Devils will be willing to take on Markstrom's full cap hit. (from 'LeBrun rumblings: Golden Knights vs. Oilers in the forward trade market, latest on Devils-Markstrom, more,' The Athletic, 03/01/24).

The Devils are still in the hunt for the playoffs. They are six points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final wild-card spot in the East with three games in hand. The Devils have a highly skilled roster that can heat up at any moment. The Devils went on a 13-game win streak last year that was instrumental for them earning their first playoff spot in four years. 

Dougie Hamilton is on the LTIR after receiving surgery on a torn pectoral muscle. Hamilton may not be ready until the playoffs start, giving the Devils $9M in cap space to work with. The issue the Devils have been dealing with is the term on Markstrom's contract and the long-term output. 

The Devils have a big decision to make, as they don't want to waste a season with the roster they have. Acquiring Markstrom could be the spark this team needs. 

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