NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 19: Alexander Holtz #10 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his goal … [+] during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Prudential Center on March 19, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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The Florida Panthers have not even been Stanley Cup champions for longer than a week. Yet the New Jersey Devils have seemingly found themselves in the media spotlight more often this offseason.
And after arguably being the most active team in this year’s draft, New Jersey faithful may need a refresher on who is still in the red and black.
Going chronologically, the Devils immediately targeted their biggest need from last season: goaltending.
They were able to fill this need by trading for former Calgary Flame netminder Jacob Markstrom. The 34-year-old, former Vezina finalist was brought to Newark for a 2025 first-round pick and defenseman Kevin Bahl.
For the price of a draft pick, expected to be less valuable in 2025 than their 10th overall selection this year, and a young defenseman who had his worst season in 2023-24, the opinion on this deal was two thumbs up.
Markstrom has two years at $6 million AAV remaining on his contract.
OTTAWA, CANADA – FEBRUARY 13: Tim Stützle #18 of the Ottawa Senators scores the overtime game … [+] winning goal against Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Calgary Flames as his teammate MacKenzie Weegar #52 looks on at Canadian Tire Centre on February 13, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
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The Sweden native is now two seasons removed from his 2.22 Goals Against Average and 9 shutout campaign. However, the goalie metrics show that Calgary’s approach defensively did not set him up to have favorable season statistics, despite performing to his career averages in even-strength opportunities.
The Devils did not make it easy on their list of goaltenders last season either, which has made defense the new priority this offseason.
Instead of utilizing the 10th overall pick in a trade, the Devils decided to add to their defensive prospect list with the selection of Russian Anton Silayev.
After a typical opening day of the draft for New Jersey, Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald had other plans for day two, trading three members of the NHL roster in total.
First, the Devils traded defenseman John Marino and a fifth-round pick to the Utah Hockey Club to move up to the 49th overall pick in this draft and received a 2025 second-round pick.
While trading away an experienced defenseman may sound like it goes against their focus on the defensive side of the puck, the 180-pound offensive defenseman is the type of personnel that may not mold well in their new philosophy.
Marino was a quality player in his two seasons with the Devils, totaling 43 points and a +15 in 139 games. Marino’s physicality is where the Devils felt comfortable moving on from the Harvard graduate, especially with the offensive abilities of Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec being evident after both of their first full seasons.
Marino’s ‘thank you’ post was still being edited in Photoshop by the Devils social media, when they had two more projects get added to their to-do list later today. And it was for a move that was going to get a lot less positive replies online.
Fitzgerald ended his day of roster turnover with an unexpected trade that sent Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid to the Vegas Golden Knights for Paul Cotter and their third-round pick in 2025.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 13: Akira Schmid #40 of the New Jersey Devils makes the second period … [+] save on Michael Carcone #53 of the Arizona Coyotes at Prudential Center on October 13, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Holtz, a former first-round pick by New Jersey, has been a player fans feared would get traded since former Head Coach Lindy Ruff publicly scrutinized him in the middle of his rookie year last season.
Holtz had an underwhelming full rookie season last year if you just look at the stats, 28 points in 82 games, but he certainly showed flashes throughout the season. Despite the season-ending earlier than anticipated for the Devils, Holtz never truly received an opportunity besides fourth-line minutes in 2023.
The writing on the wall seemed to be that the Devils would be interested in moving on from Holtz while his stock was still high, but this move for a defensive-minded center who will likely play similar minutes to Holtz seemed like a head-scratcher for Fitzgerald.
And to package him with the former first-round hero for New Jersey Akira Schmid to take from an already shaky goaltender depth chart was the icing on the cake for a move that did not seem necessary.
However, with all of the scrambling and money being moved from the roster, the Devils now sit with nearly $20 million in available space with much bigger free agency names available than initially expected.
One move that seems evident now after the clearing of such cap space is free agent Brett Pesce, who the Devils have been linked to several rumors.
The former Hurricane would be the exact fit New Jersey is after; a 6 ‘3, 205lb shot-blocker who has been in the green in terms of +/- every year since 2017. Once a key member of Carolina’s penalty kill, Pesce’s presence would be key to players like Dougie Hamilton returning from injury and Jonas Siegenthaler who is looking to return to form.
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