It’s January 2026, and if you scroll through any New Jersey Devils message board or catch a post-game radio hit after a loss, the vibe is usually the same. Panic. It’s always about the goalies. People act like the sky is falling every time a puck squeaks through a five-hole. But honestly? The reality of the New Jersey Devils goaltending situation right now is way more nuanced than just "the goalies aren't good enough."
We’ve moved past the dark days of the "goalie graveyard" era, but we haven't exactly hit the Promised Land yet. It’s a weird middle ground. You’ve got a veteran duo in Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen who are essentially holding the fort with varying levels of success. Is it perfect? No. Markstrom’s .879 save percentage through the first half of the 2025-26 season is enough to make any analytics nerd sweat. But if you actually watch the games, you see a team that still gives up high-danger chances like they’re handing out candy on Halloween.
Basically, the "problem" isn't just the guys in the pads. It's the system, the health of the blue line, and the sheer unpredictability of aging netminders.
The Markstrom Gamble: Why It’s Not Just About the Stats
When Tom Fitzgerald brought in Jacob Markstrom, the idea was simple: stability. He was supposed to be the guy who didn't let in the "soft one" at the wrong time. This season, though, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster.
Markstrom is 35 now. That’s not "old" in the real world, but in NHL goalie years? You’re starting to look at retirement brochures. His 2025-26 campaign has been a wild mix of "how did he save that?" and "how did that go in?" Just look at his recent stretch. He gets lit up for nine goals against the Islanders on January 6th, looking totally lost. Then, a week later, he goes into Minnesota and puts up a .913 to steal a win.
It’s inconsistent. It’s frustrating. But it’s also exactly what happens when you rely on a high-volume starter in the twilight of his career. He still has the 6'6" frame that covers half the net by just existing, but the lateral speed isn't what it was in Calgary.
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Breaking Down the Numbers
- The Save Percentage Dip: That .879 mark looks ugly. There’s no sugar-coating it. But his "Expected Saves" tell a slightly different story. The Devils' defense, while improved with guys like Brett Pesce and a maturing Simon Nemec, still has these weird lapses where they leave Markstrom on an island.
- The Workload: He’s already clocked over 1,200 minutes this season. For a guy who had an injury scare earlier in the year, that’s a lot of mileage.
Jake Allen: The Safety Net That’s Feeling the Weight
Then there’s Jake Allen. The "backup."
Except, he’s not really a backup, is he? He’s more of a 1B. When the Devils signed him to that five-year extension back in the summer of 2025, a lot of people scratched their heads. Five years for a guy in his mid-30s? It was a bold move by Fitzgerald, basically betting that Allen’s veteran presence would be worth the term.
Statistically, Allen has actually been the "steadier" hand this season. He’s sitting around a .908 save percentage, which is basically the league average. In the modern NHL, "average" goaltending is actually a win for New Jersey. But he’s currently on a bit of a skid himself—three straight losses where the team just couldn't find a way to support him.
The dynamic between Markstrom and Allen is supposed to be a partnership. Right now, it feels more like two guys trying to bail out a leaky boat with different sized buckets.
The Nico Daws Dilemma and the "Russia" Rumors
This is where the New Jersey Devils goaltending conversation gets spicy. Let’s talk about Nico Daws.
Poor Nico. He’s 25 now. He’s shown flashes of being a legitimate NHL starter—remember that game against the Wild earlier this season where he stopped 30 of 31 shots? He was incredible. But because of the Markstrom and Allen contracts, there’s literally no room for him. He’s stuck in Utica, playing in the AHL, and he’s clearly over it.
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There have been credible reports lately, specifically from outlets like Hockey News Hub, that Daws is looking at the KHL. If the Devils lose him for nothing, it’s a disaster. You can't just throw away young goalie depth, especially when your two main guys are 35.
Why the Depth Chart is Messy
- The Logjam: Markstrom and Allen are locked in.
- The Prospect Gap: Behind Daws, you’ve got Jeremy Brodeur (yes, Martin’s son) and Tyler Brennan. Both are great stories, but neither is ready to carry an NHL workload if one of the big guys goes down for a month.
- The Waiver Risk: Daws is waiver-eligible. Every time the Devils want to move him, they risk losing him for free. It’s a high-stakes game of chicken.
What Needs to Change for the Playoffs?
If the Devils want to do anything in the postseason, they have to figure out the defensive structure. You can't keep blaming the New Jersey Devils goaltending when the skaters are turning the puck over at the blue line.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has been vocal about the "inconsistency" of the system. Sometimes the Devils look like the 2000-era trap team—impenetrable. Other times, they look like a beer league team that forgot they have to play in their own zone.
Honestly, the "fix" isn't a trade. You aren't going to go out and find a better goalie than Markstrom or Allen without giving up a piece of the core (like a Mercer or a Casey). The fix is internal. It’s about limiting the "high-danger" cross-crease passes that have been killing Markstrom all season.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
To stabilize the crease and actually make a run, here is what the organization needs to prioritize:
- Manage the Minutes: Markstrom shouldn't be starting more than 55% of the games. They need to lean on Allen more to keep Markstrom fresh for April.
- Clarify the Daws Situation: Either trade him for an asset now or give him a legitimate path to the NHL roster. Letting him bolt to Russia for nothing is "bad business," as many analysts have pointed out.
- Defensive Accountability: The skaters need to stop "cheating" for offense. When the defensemen pinch too deep, it creates the 2-on-1s that are tanking the goalies' stats.
- Special Teams Support: The penalty kill has hovered around 77%, which is middle-of-the-pack. A better PK makes any goalie look like a Vezina candidate.
The Devils are in a window to win. They have the Hughes brothers, Hischier, and Bratt in their primes. The goaltending doesn't need to be legendary; it just needs to be reliable. Right now, it's a coin flip every night. If they can turn that coin flip into a sure bet, this team is a nightmare for anyone in the Eastern Conference.
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Stop looking at the save percentage in a vacuum. Start looking at the context. That’s where the real story of the Devils' season is being written.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on the waiver wire over the next three weeks. If the Devils make a move to clear space, it’s a sign they’ve finally decided on the Nico Daws situation. Also, watch the "High Danger Chances Against" stat on sites like Natural Stat Trick; if that number drops and the save percentage stays low, then—and only then—is it time to truly panic about the men in net.