Devils’ Net Is The Envy Of The League

Goaltenders are a team’s most important players.

When you find a good goaltender, you hold on to them. When you have two? You thank each and every one of the hockey gods for the good karma you have (or whatever people say to the “hockey gods”).

The New Jersey Devils are one of those teams that has two fantastic goalies.

Oddly enough, both netminders were acquired via trade. Jake Allen was brought in at last year’s trade deadline for a conditional third-round draft pick. On June 19, the Devils sent a first-round pick and Kevin Bahl to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Jacob Markstrom. In both deals, the Devils were able to get the other team to retain their salary.

This season, both goalies have posted solid numbers. For Allen, he has a 5-2-1 record in eight games. He also has sported a 2.26 goals against average (GAA), a .921 save percentage (SV%), and two shutouts to boot.

Alternatively, Markstrom has taken the bulk of the starts with 16. He has a 10-5-1 record in those games, a 2.51 GAA, a .907 SV%, and one shutout.

Impressively, the Devils are spending just over $6 million for the combined services of the two netminders. That level of asset management should give Tom Fitzgerald more than a few votes for GM of the year come award season.

The Devils are the team with the second-best record in the league and one of the best – if not the best – goalie tandem in the NHL.

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